Parkinson's disease

 

About 3 in every 1000 adults (both sexes) above the age 50 develop Parkinson's Disease. Whilst rare, it can also affect children who have less dopamine-sensitive nerves. (read below)


During the early stages of Parkinson's disease, there is little or no facial expression, arms may not swing when walking and speech may become soft or slurred. Symptoms manifest progressively on either one side or both sides of the body to require special attention. Some early warning signs are:
-  The slowing of movements can impair your ability to perform daily chores
-  With the balance problems, you may fall easily
-  Rigidity results in contracted muscles in any part of your body limiting your range of motion and cause you pain
-  With the tremor, you hand or foot goes in a back and forth movement estimated at 4-6 beats per second in the resting mode


Causes

Parkinson’s involves the degeneration of the cells (damaged or lost) affecting neurons in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra. Some of these dying neurons produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger), involved in signal transmissions within the brain that coordinate movement and coordination. As PD progresses, the amount of dopamine produced in the brain decreases, leaving a person unable to control movement normally.

The exact cause is still unknown. One hypothesis is that brain cells are destroyed by toxins that the liver is unable to filter out, metabolise or detoxify as this vital organ loses its functionality with increasing age. Exposure to environmental toxins like pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals can be severe in some instances.

By the time the disease is diagnosed, most patients may have lost up to 80% of their dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra. This significant drop causes communication problems between the brain and muscles, hampering movement and muscle function.


Remedies


Although Parkinson's disease cannot be reversed, there are ways to improve the condition:


+  Medications may help to improve some symptoms.


+  Between the start of the disease and the diagnosis, the brain is already adapting, responding to new experiences and learning new motor skills. Physiotherapy can significantly improve walking speed, functional mobility and balance. To reap maximum benefits, the exercises performed have to be specific and targeted to where there are deficits.


+  In occasional cases, surgery may be recommended to regulate certain regions of your brain and improve your symptoms.


+  Taking the right diet and supplements help in a big way to reduce the disease severity. For example:


--  Reduced levels of Vitamin D put them at risk of bone thinning or osteoporosis, increasing the chances of falling. A diet rich in Vitamin D and calcium help to maintain the skeletal strength.
--  Half of all patients experience slow down bowel movement and constipation with the poor response of dopamine cells lying in the colon. A high fiber diet of fruits, vegetables and whole grains helps to mitigate the problem. Doing frequent exercise and taking plenty of fluids to keep hydrated can also improve the condition.
--  Fish rich in Omega3 DHA can improve the brain function.
--  To avoid complication keep to a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol can reduce the risk of heart disease. 


VIVA corner

Both VIVA B-easy and Biolecthin contain Vitamin B most essential for brain functioning and enzyme activity - a lack of which can cause depression, nerve damage and a reduction of neurotransmitter level. Vitamin B6 is mostly involved in dopamine production. Vivashield contains four potent antioxidants vitamin A, C, E and selenium which can clear free radicals and thus retards the progression of the disease.


VIVA Liquick gingko helps to increase blood circulation to the brain, enhance nervous transmission, delay the aging process of the temporal and limbic lobe in the brain that are responsible for memory management. Viva CalMag and D is important for proper bone and muscle development, maintaining regular heartbeat and assists in the transmission of nerve impulses.