Parkinson's Disease | Are you suffering from Parkinson's disease?

April 11 is World Parkinson's Day. At present, the overall prevalence of Parkinson's disease in the elderly population over 65 years old in my country increases with age. However, the awareness of Parkinson's disease in China is still in a "low awareness, low consultation rate, and low diagnosis rate". On this special day today, let us get closer to it and understand it.

Parkinson's disease is caused by the rapid structural degeneration of the substantia nigra in the brain, which cannot produce the neurotransmitter "dopamine", limiting the brain's ability to command muscle activity and greatly hindering the patient's ability to move. Its main symptoms include bradykinesia, static tremor, muscle rigidity and postural balance disorders, which seriously affect the patient's quality of life.

So, is the common hand tremor we see Parkinson's disease? Not necessarily. Hand tremor may also be other diseases such as essential tremor. Essential tremor is mainly action and postural tremor, with a long course and little impact on life. Nearly 50% of patients have a family history. 60% to 70% of Parkinson's patients will experience resting tremor during the course of the disease, that is, the limbs will tremble when they are still, but will be reduced or even disappear during activities. Parkinson's patients will also have symptoms such as bradykinesia and muscle rigidity, so tremor alone cannot be diagnosed as Parkinson's disease.

How should we judge and prevent Parkinson's disease, the third killer of the elderly after malignant tumors and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases?

Due to people's lack of understanding of Parkinson's disease, many elderly people fail to seek medical treatment and receive treatment in the early stage, missing the best time for treatment and causing the disease to worsen. Some patients even never receive treatment, gradually lose their ability to live, and eventually become bedridden for a long time due to inability to move, unable to take care of themselves, and bring a heavy burden to their families. Therefore, it is very important to correctly identify the early symptoms of Parkinson's disease and seek medical treatment in time. Once symptoms such as hunchback, slow movement, and limb numbness appear, you should go to a regular large hospital's neurology department as soon as possible. Under the professional diagnosis and treatment of the doctor, perform systematic examinations such as head CT, head MRI, and head color Doppler ultrasound to diagnose and treat in time to avoid delaying the disease.

In addition to being highly vigilant about details of life, Parkinson's disease patients' own families should also observe carefully. Bending and hunchback are very prominent when sitting or walking, and can disappear completely when lying flat. Walking is often accompanied by "small steps" and "walking faster and faster, rushing forward, and unable to stop". If someone behind suddenly stops them while walking, Parkinson's disease patients can easily fall, and it usually takes several steps to turn around. When walking, one foot seems to be glued to the ground, and the height of the foot is inconsistent. The arm swinging movement is also very unnatural or even disappears. Daily activities are affected, such as dressing, buttoning, shoe lacing, clumsy movements, limb stiffness, etc., which may all be manifestations of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is actually not scary. As long as it is detected, diagnosed and treated early, it can better improve symptoms, improve the patient's quality of life and delay disease progression.

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