Parkinson's Disease

To put it simply, Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder that causes a wide range of mobility issues over time. Oftentimes, it appears first as a little shaking in one hand. Although tremor is the most noticeable symptom of Parkinson's disease, stiffness or slowness of movement are also common.

You may walk with your arms at your sides or find that your arms don't swing as you move, both early symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Your voice might weaken or become slurred. The symptoms of Parkinson's disease tend to worsen over time.

Symptoms

The manifestations of Parkinson's disease in any one individual are not fixed.

There are a variety of symptoms that might indicate Parkinson's disease.

• Tremor.
• Slowed movement (bradykinesia).
• Hard, rigid muscles.
• Impaired posture and balance.
• The inability to do routine physical tasks without conscious effort.
• Speech changes.
• Changes in writing. Writing may look small and challenging.

Causes

• Idiopathic
• Genetic
• Idiopathic
• Head trauma
• Cerebral anoxia and drug-induced.

Types of Parkinson's disease:

1. Idiopathic Parkinson's disease, sometimes known simply as primary PD, is the most common form of the illness.
2. Toxic exposure, especially to medications, brain injury, or another medical condition can all lead to a form of Parkinson's disease known as secondary Parkinson's disease.

Tests and diagnosis:

• A reduction in dopamine activity in the basal ganglia, as shown on an 18F PET scan, is a pattern that can be used to diagnose PD.
• Scans of the brain using CT or MRI are often normal in persons with PD.
• There is currently no validated blood or laboratory test for diagnosing PD.
• thus, neurological testing is the basis for the diagnosis.

medications and treatments

Although there is currently no treatment for Parkinson's disease, drugs can significantly reduce the severity of its symptoms. Later on, surgical intervention may be recommended.

Medications

1. Medication that boosts dopamine levels in the brain can be useful for those with difficulties with walking, movement, and tremor. However, dopamine can't be administered directly since it isn't brain-accessible.
2. This is a combination of carbidopa and levodopa. The brain absorbs levodopa, a natural molecule, and converts it to the neurotransmitter dopamine, making it the most effective treatment for Parkinson's disease.
3. Dopamine agonists. Dopamine agonists aren't converted into dopamine like levodopa is. They act in the brain in a manner similar to that of dopamine.
4. As in, anticholinergics. These drugs have been around for a while, and they assist with the tremor that comes with Parkinson's disease.
5. Planned physical therapy; to maintain normal muscle tone and function.

Nursing care

• Impact on cognition and social functioning Many persons with PD exhibit moderate cognitive changes, such as a reduced capacity to multitask or finish difficult tasks. Many people with PD find it helpful to plan ahead and divide up large, daunting tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks.
• Up to 70% of people with PD are believed to experience despair, therefore gauging their emotional state is important. Depression screenings should be a routine element of any nursing care plan.

Communication, speech, and swallow:

• Slurred speech and decreased loudness are common symptoms. Helpful techniques include the use of a pacing board and the encouragement of the patient to utilize loud speech or short sentences.

PD can also have an impact on the ability to swallow and produce saliva. The swallowing process may be more laborious for a person with PD, and the complexity of this action means that it will require focused attention.

Nutrition and elimination

• Keeping an eye on a patient's weight is a crucial intervention. Some persons with PD may gain weight due to decreased activity, but the vast majority actually lose weight.
• Dopamine replacement treatment efficacy may be influenced by dietary protein intake.

Blood pressure and postural hypotension 

• Low blood pressure, often known as postural hypotension, is a common side effect of several medications. As a result of their condition, the patient may experience dizziness when they change their posture.
• If the patient is on anti-hypertensive medication, monitoring this condition requires regular sitting and standing blood pressure assessments. Medication to maintain healthy blood pressure may be necessary for some patients. 

References

https://quizlet.com/71336239/brain-vocabulary-flash-cards/
https://oxfordrecoverycenter.com/parkinsons-disease/\swww.theneurologicalinstitute.com/index.php/parkinsons-disease/\swww.pdf.org/about pd
Course Hero: MA, MA, MA - Rasmussen College 278
G. Mandal (August 2013).
Adult Health Nursing: A Textbook (2nd ed.). Kathmandu, Nepal: Makalu Publishing House, Dilllibazar. Obtainable as of August 2013
https://prezi.com/19sdmbkrduu1/parkinsons-diease/