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ConditionsWhat are Parkinson’s Symptoms
Parkinson’s symptoms are varied, and every patient experiences them in a different way, so it’s important to be informed and vigilant. What are the signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease? Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common neurological conditions in this country. Despite this, thousands of people are misdiagnosed every year, meaning that patients suffer delays in getting the treatment and support they need. Part of the problem is that everyone’s experience of Parkinson’s is different. The symptoms develop gradually and can be confused for normal ageing, so the disease can take a frustratingly long time to diagnose. How can I tell if a loved one has Parkinson’s? If you mention Parkinson’s disease, most people will picture someone with a tremor. It’s true that a tremor is common, but not everyone gets shaky. Many people may just experience a general slowing down of movement, an abnormal stiffness in the…
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
Multiple sclerosis treatment: from holistic therapies, to the common medications and how they work. MS Treatments MS can be treated in many ways, even if it can’t be cured. There are treatments that can slow the progress of the disease, or reduce the regularity of relapsing symptoms. There are also treatments that will help to minimise the symptoms themselves. Treating symptoms Fatigue Fatigue is a very common symptom of MS, and it can be treated holistically with exercise, regulating sleep patters, staying healthy and using energy-saving techniques. It can also be treated with amantadine. Amantadine is an antiviral drug, and how it reduces fatigue in MS patients is still unknown. Muscle spasms and stiffness This can be improved with physiotherapy. Stretching exercises can help to counter restricted movement and alleviate stiffness. If your spasms are more severe you may be prescribed baclofen, a muscle relaxant, or gabapentin, an antiepileptic medication.…
How are Parkinson’s and dementia related?
Dementia is a comorbidity of Parkinson’s, which means that the damage caused to the brain through Parkinson’s, can cause dementia. How are Parkinson’s and dementia related? Parkinson’s and dementia are two of the most common degenerative neurological conditions in this country, affecting many thousands of people. However, there are a lot of myths and misunderstandings about the illnesses. If you have been told that you have either condition, the future may seem bleak and bewildering. Whether you’ve found this blog having been recently been diagnosed, or are worried about a loved one, then read on, hopefully, we can help you to gain some understanding. What is dementia? Dementia is defined in the dictionary as: A chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning. That does give a reasonable explanation, but it’s important to realise…
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Multiple Sclerosis: A Deeper Dive
Multiple Sclerosis: A Deeper Dive, provides an overview of the disease, with scientific and medical expressions explained in simple terms. What is Multiple Sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis or MS is a neurodegenerative disease, which means that the brain will become more affected over time. It’s characterised by damaged areas (lesions) on the brain and spinal cord. MS causes, among other things, muscle spasms, and problems with thinking, learning, and mobility. . What causes Multiple Sclerosis? Genetic factors MS has a genetic susceptibility, but it is not directly inherited. It is estimated that 8.5% of the population is ‘genetically susceptible’ to multiple sclerosis, and people in this category are 12 times more likely to develop MS than the rest. As a result, 84% of all MS cases come from this genetically susceptible group. MS is known to affect more women than men, but there is no evidence to suggest that there are more…
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Why is MS Often So Difficult to Diagnose?
MS can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can be easy to ignore or put down to another condition, and because there’s no single test that can diagnose it. What is multiple sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis, or MS, causes the brain to degenerate over time. It’s characterised by damaged areas (lesions) on the brain and spinal cord. MS causes, among other things, muscle spasms, problems with thinking and learning, and mobility problems. Why is MS often difficult to diagnose? The symptoms of MS are varied. Not every patient will experience them all, and most will experience them differently. Many of the symptoms are also easy to dismiss or to put down to something else, which can make early diagnosis difficult. The most common symptoms are: FatigueProblems with sightTrouble with balance and dizzinessNumbness and tinglingMuscle spasms, stiffness and weaknessProblems when thinking or planningSexual problemsBladder problemsBowel problemsProblems with speech and swallowing For…
How Does MS Affect the Body?
MS affects the body by causing, among other things, muscle spasms, problems with thinking and learning, and mobility problems. How does Multiple Sclerosis affect the body? The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are varied, can affect any part of the body, and every patient is affected differently. For some, the symptoms develop and get more pronounced over time, and for others the symptoms come and go. Two terms that are often used are: Relapse – when symptoms that have abated for a time, come back.Remission – When symptoms that have been bad, improve or clear. The most common symptoms include: FatigueProblems with sightTrouble with balance and dizzinessOsteoporosisNumbness and tinglingMuscle spasms, stiffness and weaknessProblems when thinking or planningSexual problemsBladder problemsBowel problemsProblems with speech and swallowing For more information on the history, causes and treatments of MS, see MS: A Deeper Dive Fatigue Fatigue is an ‘invisible symptom’ of multiple sclerosis. It comes as…
What Are MS Symptoms?
The symptoms of MS include: fatigue, problems with sight, balance and dizziness, numbness and tingling, muscle spasms, cognitive difficulties, bladder and bowel problems. What is Multiple Sclerosis? Multiple sclerosis, or MS is a neurodegenerative disease, which means that the brain degenerates over time. It’s characterised by damaged areas (lesions) on the brain and spinal cord. MS causes, among other things, muscle spasms, problems with thinking and learning, and mobility problems. For more information about the history, causes, and treatments of multiple sclerosis, see MS: A Deeper Dive What are MS symptoms? The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are varied, can affect any part of the body, and every patient is affected differently. For some, the symptoms develop and get more pronounced over time, and for others the symptoms come and go. Two terms that are often used are: Relapse – when symptoms that have abated for a time, come back.Remission –…
Caring for someone with MS
To care for someone with MS, you must find time to care for yourself. Read more to find out how to access the support you will need. Caring for someone with MS Caring for a loved one is rewarding, but it can also be immensely stressful. As multiple sclerosis is unpredictable, it’s difficult to know what your loved one will need from one week to the next. This means that caring for someone with MS can be uniquely challenging. For more information about the history, causes and treatments of multiple sclerosis, see MS: A Deeper Dive Multiple sclerosis is a degenerative disease, so the care required will become more demanding as time goes by. It’s no good putting off accessing support until you burn-out. The health of your loved one is important, but so is yours. If your loved one’s MS becomes ‘advanced’, they will be entirely dependent on others for…
Why do Parkinson’s patients sleep so much?
Parkinson’s patients experience difficulties with their sleep due to the disease itself and the medications that treat it. This can lead to increased sleepiness during the day. Parkinson’s disease can cause problems with sleep, and the medications used to treat…
How Does Parkinson’s Disease Affect Daily Life?
Parkinson’s disease can alter your family relationships, how you exercise, eat, work, and move. But these changes don’t happen immediately, and you can take steps to minimise their long term impact. How does Parkinson’s affect daily life? Parkinson’s is…
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