Getting a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease can be a frightening time for both the person being diagnosed and the people in their family who help to care for them. Parkinson's is a life changing disease that progresses in different ways for each individual. A lot of sufferers find their condition affects them in different ways on a day to day basis.

Many who are diagnosed with Parkinson's are able to stay independent after their diagnosis, although they will often need to adapt how they do some activities. For family members and other loved ones, it can be hard to find the balance between giving them the freedom of continuing to enjoy their life as much as possible and keeping them safe at all times.

By having your loved one wear a Parkinson's wristband you can put your mind at ease as they go about their day to day life, safe in the knowledge that if they have a medical emergency, there is a medical aid in place that will alert first responders and passers by to their condition.

Read on for some information about Parkinson's.

What Is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's is a degenerative condition that causes motor impairment and tremors. In the early stages of the disease the affected person will experience:

  • muscle stiffnessparkinson disease, aging, medical condition, parkinson's wristband
  • involuntary shaking
  • slow movement

As the disease progresses other symptoms develop that affect both the mental and physical well being of the person.

Mental symptoms include:

  • mild cognitive impairment
  • dementia
  • anxiety and depression

Physical symptoms include:

  • problems with balance
  • nerve pain
  • insomnia
  • difficulty swallowing
  • blurred vision, dizziness or fainting
  • loss of sense of smell

Who Is Affected?

Around 70,000 Australians are living with Parkinson's. The majority of the people diagnosed with the condition are in their 60s although it is possible for younger people to be diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's.

How Is Parkinson's Diagnosed?

Parkinson's is a hard condition to diagnose. There are no tests that can be taken to diagnose Parkinson's. Diagnosis is based on the medical history, symptoms, and a detailed physical examination of the affected person by a specialist.

What Causes Parkinson's?

Parkinson's is caused by nerve cells in the brain dying. It takes many years for the nerve cells to die and the symptoms of Parkinson's only develop after 80% of the cells are lost.

Complementary Therapies

Many people with Parkinson's benefit from complementary therapies that help them to manage their symptoms. Some complementary therapies that may help Parkinson's sufferers include:

Art Therapy - uses art to communicate thoughts and emotions and could help your loved one to relax and focus their mind whilst expressing their emotions, helping to relieve their anxiety, stress and depression.

Dance Therapy - helps your loved one to socialise and exercise. Some forms of dancing, like the tango, can have specific benefits for Parkinson's sufferers.

Music Therapy - Many people with Parkinson's find that listening to music with a strong rhythm can help them to improve their walking, overcome freezing episodes, and preventing hesitations.

T'ai Chi - Some studies have shown that T'ai Chi can improve flexibility, fitness, and balance in older people and may help prevent falls in people with Parkinson's.

Exercise

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Research indicates that exercise keeps the dopamine producing nerve cells working more efficiently, potentially slowing down the progression of the disease. When exercise is carried out on a regular basis it can help your loved one to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression by giving them a sense of achievement.

There is some research that the Nintendo Wii games console is particularly beneficial to people with Parkinson's as it allows them to control movements whilst improving their balance and controlling symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.  Mediband's parkinson's wristband may help in emergencies in cases where the wearer cannot communicate for themselves.