[Health Tip] November 11, 'Parkinson's Disease Day': Suspect It If You Experience Hand Tremors and Shortened Stride

The upcoming 11th is designated as 'World Parkinson's Disease Day' to raise awareness about Parkinson's disease. It was established on April 11th, the birthday of British surgeon James Parkinson, who first reported the disease in 1817 and after whom the disease is named.

Parkinson's Disease
[Image source=Clipart Korea]

Parkinson's disease is one of the three major neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly and is considered the second most common degenerative brain disorder after dementia. As society ages, the incidence continues to rise steadily. According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service on the 9th, the number of Parkinson's patients increased by about 16% over five years, from 100,716 in 2017 to 116,504 in 2021.

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative brain disorder caused by the loss of various nerve cells in the brain. Previously, it was simply recognized as a disease causing tremors or difficulty walking, but in reality, it presents a wide range of symptoms. ▲Tremor, which is shaking of a part of the body at rest ▲Bradykinesia, or slowness of movement ▲Rigidity, or muscle stiffness ▲Gait disturbance, such as dragging the legs while walking ▲Postural instability, such as stooped posture and easy falling?these motor symptoms appear in different combinations in each patient. Along with these, non-motor symptoms also occur, including dementia, anxiety, depression, visual hallucinations, sleep disorders (insomnia, talking in sleep), frequent urination, constipation, fatigue, and autonomic nervous system disorders (orthostatic hypotension, sexual dysfunction, abnormal sweating).

If you experience symptoms such as ▲difficulty getting up from bed or a chair ▲smaller handwriting than before ▲people around you say your voice has become quieter or weaker ▲tendency to stagger or fall when walking or standing ▲feeling that your feet do not lift well off the ground and movements are unnatural when walking ▲people around you say your facial expressions have become more rigid than before ▲trembling of hands or feet ▲difficulty buttoning buttons with your hands ▲dragging your feet while walking or taking short, shuffling steps, you should suspect Parkinson's disease.

If you notice or are pointed out symptoms suggestive of Parkinson's disease, it is wise to promptly consult a neurologist specializing in Parkinson's disease. Although it is classified as a degenerative brain disorder related to aging, the incidence among middle-aged people under 50 has been increasing recently, and it is occasionally found even in people in their 20s and 30s, so it is necessary to seek medical attention if symptoms appear at a young age. With appropriate medication and surgery, symptoms can improve enough not to significantly interfere with work or daily life.

[Image source=Pixabay]

The causes of Parkinson's disease are not yet clearly identified. Environmental factors such as pesticides like herbicides and insecticides, and air pollutants like nitrogen dioxide have been reported to increase the risk of onset, but these are not yet definitive enough to apply to all patients. Genetic factors are also considered, but Parkinson's disease caused by gene mutations accounts for only about 5% of all patients, explaining only familial Parkinson's disease cases. Recently, genome research has been conducted to identify the causal role of genetic mutations and to develop personalized treatments tailored to individual patients.

There is currently no treatment that can prevent Parkinson's disease or slow its progression. Once diagnosed, treatment involves various medications that can replace the dopamine deficiency in the brain or surgery. Professor Jeong Seon-ju of the Department of Neurology at Seoul Asan Medical Center stated, "One important fact is that among degenerative brain diseases, Parkinson's disease is the only one whose symptoms noticeably improve with medication," and emphasized, "Recently, some patients avoid taking medication after reading that it is better to delay Parkinson's drugs as much as possible and instead rely on exercise or traditional Korean medicine, but this is a very wrong treatment approach." If dopamine continues to be deficient in the brain, dysfunction and side effects can occur in brain motor circuits and related connections, so it is not advisable to endure symptoms without taking medication due to fear of side effects. If medications are taken strictly according to the prescribed dosage and method, patients who cannot walk can walk, and those who walk poorly can run.

When the effectiveness of long-term medication decreases and late motor complications become severe, deep brain stimulation surgery is performed. This treatment involves implanting a device under the skin and delivering electrical stimulation to the subthalamic nucleus or thalamus deep in the brain to improve motor symptoms. Since deep brain stimulation is brain surgery, the patient must be in good health to undergo surgery, and it is usually performed before the age of 75 as it is not suitable for very elderly patients. Overall, it improves Parkinson's motor symptoms and motor complications by about 75%, so if appropriate patients safely undergo surgery, their quality of life can improve significantly.

Health management in daily life is also important for Parkinson's patients. Professor Jeong Seon-ju said, "Exercise is very important for Parkinson's patients," and added, "Because symptoms cause muscle rigidity, slowed muscle movement, and stooped posture, doing stretching exercises and aerobic exercise for 1 to 2 hours daily is very helpful." He also noted that combining strength training can yield even greater effects.

Exercise is best done during the day (around 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) when muscles are somewhat accustomed to activity. Exercising while getting adequate sunlight helps prevent osteoporosis and improves symptoms of depression and sleep disorders. Patients who enjoy hiking should be cautious. Parkinson's patients tend to lean forward and may have shuffling gait and postural instability, so extra care is needed when descending mountains rather than climbing, and it is advisable to avoid high mountains.

Nutrition management is also important because Parkinson's patients typically experience fatigue, weakness, and lack of energy. They should eat plenty of fruits rich in brain-beneficial vitamins C and E, such as apples, strawberries, tangerines, oranges, and kiwis, as well as cabbage, broccoli, and green vegetables. Nuts should also be consumed in moderation. For protein intake, it is good to eat quality chicken breast or beef with the fat removed. However, protein reduces the effectiveness of the Parkinson's medication 'Levodopa,' so it is recommended to consume meat at least one hour apart from taking Levodopa. To relieve severe constipation, a common symptom among patients, consuming fiber-rich foods is beneficial. Drinking about 1.5 liters of water throughout the day also helps.

Sleep disorders are also a representative symptom that troubles Parkinson's patients. To resolve insomnia, improving the sleep environment is necessary. It is good to get an appropriate amount of sunlight during the day, and it is advisable to avoid watching TV, using mobile phones, or the internet 2 to 3 hours before sleep or after 8 p.m. Taking a lukewarm shower in the evening followed by drinking warm tea while reading or listening to classical music can be helpful.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.