The Effect of Parkinson’s Disease How it Alters a Person’s Lifestyle

Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease may cause the person affected as well as family members or friends to make numerous adjustments. In the patient, this condition could affect them in one of the following ways:

They may not be able to use the bathroom alone. They also might experience gastrioinstestinal problems such as constipation or abdominal discomfort as a result of the affect of this condition on the muscles. They may also be constipated more frequently, or experience additional gastrioinestinal trouble.

They may not be able to eat without help of a nurse or spouse. Moreover, they may have difficulty swallowing. They might have a hard time swallowing or they may not be able to feed themselves. A nurse or family member may have to help them.

They might have difficulty standing up. In addition, they may have difficulty walking. Therefore, they may need to be transported in a wheel chair. This may be a cause of great distress for patients and families until they grow accustomed to the procedure.

Their ability to work or perform daily tasks may be limited. They might even need to hire someone to cook, clean, or shop for them. This could possibly cause a financial burden on patients and families.

They might not be able to drive. This is probably one of the most depressing losses of independence for many patients. This can cause a PD sufferer to feel very inadequate. Not many people want to depend upon other people or public transportation to get around.

They might be depressed, or feel helpless. They could also become increasingly depressed or helpless. This often is a result of having to count on family and friends to take care of them. They may also mourn loss of a happy retirement-or at least may need to cope with the fact that their retirement plans are now altered.

As their memory loss worsens, they may not even recognize their own families. This causes great feelings of rejection in young children or in adults if they do not fully understand what is happening. However, as the condition is understood more by all affected parties the loss of relationship is grieved, and people carry on with life.

They may not be able to use their fingers. For instance example, they may not be able to write a letter or sign a card, play a musical instrument, participate in board games, or type on the computer. They also may not be coordinated enough to dial their own phone number.

Hopefully the harsh reality presented in this article is not too much for some individuals who have just learned of their diagnosis. For sufferers and families there is hope, and there is life after being diagnosed in most cases.

Often the progression of this conditions very slow so many families make the most of the time they can share now. With new advancements in treatment, perhaps the likelihood of greater management of this condition will increase.

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