Question

My father has just been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This is so new to my sister and me. We do not know anything about the condition and have some questions for the nurse:

1. What is Parkinson’s disease and what causes it?
2. Are we at risk for getting Parkinson’s disease? (Hint: risk factors)?
3. What are the signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?
4. Are there any medical tests or labs that are done to help confirm the diagnosis?
5. Are there any medications used to treat this condition?
6. Are there any special nursing considerations when caring for with Parkinson’s disease?
7. Are there any psychosocial considerations that I need to know about to care for him?
8. 8. Is there such a thing a Parkinson’s dementia?
9. Are there any community resources that you can recommend that focus on Parkinson’s disease patients and their families? (look on internet)

Answer 1

1)It is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement.It occurs when the nerve cells( neurons that are essential to produce dopamine, an important brain chemical ) in an area of brain that controls movement get affected or die. When the dopamine level decreases it leads to the abnormal brain activity.

The exact cause of this disease is unknown but this disease can be caused by genetic and environmental factors. The other risk factors include head injury, tobacco use, exposure to pesticides etc.

2)The exact cause is unknown and parkinson's disease is rarely hereditary. If a person tested positive for a certain gene mutation, the risk may increase but they may still never develop this disease. Scientists don't know why some people develop and others do not.

3)tremor or shaking, slowed movement, muscle stiffness with limited range of motion, impaired posture and balance, difficulty to perform unconscious movement like blinking and smiling, speak slowly and quickly, handwriting appears too small. Later stages the may experience thinking and emotional difficulties, chewing and eating problems, sleeping and bladder problems. These are the major symptoms

4)medical history collection and neurological examination are the initial tools for diagnosis. The presence of lewy bodies in the brain cells and the presence of alpha -synuclein in the lewy bodies are the clue for the cause of this disease. MRI of the part of brain (substantia nigra) and changes in the brain cells helps to diagnose this disease

5)levodopa, Tolcapone, bromocriptine, safinamide, apomorphine, amantadine are some of the medication given to the patient

6)dietary needs should be met, physical activity needs to be monitored and assisted, safety of the patient should be the primary concern of the care giver, medications should be given on time and keep a medication diary and must be aware of the effects and side effects of the drugs. Care for constipation

7) The family members should be aware of the patient's mental and emotional status as these are affected in parkinson's disease. The patient may experience mood swings, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, sexual dysfunction, psychosis, intellectual impairment, impulsive behavior, dementia and so on. The family members should be educated and pay special attention to the patient's emotional and mental needs

8)There is parkinson's dementia. 50 to 80% patients develop it and the average progression of time is 10 years.

Parkinson's foundation helps people with parkinson's disease and care givers to access with local resources and services such as educational program, support groups, health and wellness classes