What You Need To Know About Parkinson's Disease

I'm Dr. Melinda Burnett, and I'm a neurologist at CHI Health.

I am also a specialist in movement disorders. That means that a lot of the patients I see, have Parkinson's disease. As a fairly common disease, about one out of a hundred of us will get it in our lifetime, and that frequency only increases as we get older.

What Causes Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's disease is still a big mystery as to why people get it. However, when young people are exposed to pesticides, herbicides or well water they are at higher risk of developing the disease.

Parkinson's disease is something that shows up in different ways for different people.

Common Symptoms Are:

• Tremors or shaking in their hands.
• Stiffness, stooping over or shuffling when they walk.

But it's important to note that these symptoms can be caused by other problems as well. Therefore, it's good to see a movement disorder doctor or neurologist so you can be diagnosed.

How Do You Treat Parkinson's Disease?

The good news is that we have many treatments that can help with the symptoms. It can be treated by the use of medications; a common one is called carbidopa-levodopa which can help to stop the tremors and stiffness.

If the disease progresses, brain surgery may be an alternative treatment. It's a very treatable condition and it helps to have someone knowledgeable about the medicines and the diagnosis to guide people along.

If you or your loved one has any similar symptoms, please call the CHI Health Neurological Institute to setup an appointment with a neurologist.