Exercise: For people with Parkinson's, regular exercise and/or physical therapy are essential for maintaining and improving mobility, flexibility, balance, and a range of motion, and for warding off many of the secondary symptoms mentioned above. Exercise is as important as medication for the management of PD.
Support groups: For many people, these groups play an important role in the emotional well-being of patients and families. They provide a caring environment for asking questions about Parkinson's, for laughing and crying and sharing stories and getting advice from other sufferers, and for forging friendships with people who understand each other's problems.
Diet: There is no specific diet to prevent or slow Parkinson's but there are several suggestions to help manage the disease. A vegetable-rich diet may aid digestion and prevent constipation. Parkinson's patients should also take a balanced approach to protein intake because protein inhibits the absorption of levodopa in the gut. Avoiding high protein meals when taking levodopa helps prevent this potential problem. However, a patient should not make dietary changes without discussing this first with their doctor. Parkinson's disease nutrition author, Kathrynne Holden, offers several books, including "Eat Well, Stay Well" and "Cook Well, Stay Well" that provide beneficial eating and cooking tips. Copies can be ordered from Five Star Living, on (877) 565-2665 or at www.nutritionucanlivewith.com.
A Healthy Patient/Doctor Relationship: A neurologist can most effectively help a patient manage his or her Parkinson's if the neurologist and the patient have a good working relationship. Doctors need the patient to be honest, forthright, and inquisitive in order to give the best medical attention possible. Patients should also require that a doctor treat them in the same honest, open manner, engaging them in dialogue about the patient's experiences. Doctors can provide a wealth of information and suggestions for improving quality of life.
Physical, Speech and/or Occupational Therapy: These therapies can help Parkinson's patients control their symptoms and make daily life easier. Physical therapy may increase muscle strength and flexibility and decrease the incidence of falls. Speech therapy is available to increase voice volume and assist with word pronunciation. The Lee Silverman technique is a special speech therapy that can be very beneficial to people with Parkinson's - for further information see www.lsvt.org.
Occupational therapy affords patients alternative methods of doing tasks that they can no longer perform with ease. These options may give patients a stronger sense of control when living with Parkinson's disease, which seems to take control from them. The patient should ask a physician for recommendations if he or she does not provide them. These therapies may or may not be covered by insurance.
Clinical Trials: Getting involved in a clinical trial may be a way for a patient to feel empowered and help researchers understand more about Parkinson's disease in order to improve treatment options for this disorder. Increased clinical trial participation will result in a better understanding of the disease and will also help treatments that are in the research and developmental phases reach patients more quickly. A patient should understand what the trial entails and be educated about the patient's responsibilities and obligations. To find more information on the patient's role in clinical trials, visit www.ninds.nih.gov/parkinsonsweb/clinical_trials_info.htm.
For information on Parkinson's disease clinical trials, visit:
www.clinicaltrials.gov
www.centerwatch.com
To participate in an important survey about clinical trials, please click here.
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