April is a month designated to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease.

First of all Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder, that occurs when brain cells that produce dopamine malfunction and die.  This results in the person being incapable of controlling movements in a normal way. 

There are specific symptoms that individuals affected with Parkinson’s disease experience.  These symptoms include:

• Tremors of the hands, arms, legs, jaw and face.
• Slow movement of extremities
• Stiffness of the limbs and trunk.
• Impaired balance and coordination.

Here are some tips for living with Parkinson’s disease:

• Be sure to make your home safe, by installing grab bars, removing slippery scatter rugs and making sure rooms and stairwells are well lit. 
• Diet and Nutrition are important, but it also may become difficult to swallow, so be sure to cut food up small and sit up for 30 minutes after eating. 
• Exercise Regularly- this will help your body stay mobile.

There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s but research continues to make great strides, with the hope to find a cure and better treatments to manage the condition. 

˜Denise Stevens RN