EARLY STAGE PARKINSON’S
During the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, symptoms may be mild, which generally do not interfere with activities. There may be a slight tremor and other movement-related symptoms on one side of the body with slight changes in speech, posture and walking, along with depression, slowness of thought and loss of smell.
But the key to living a healthy and fulfilling life is to make a decision right at the beginning
to TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE WITH PARKINSON’S.
The following are a few pointers to help you:
Well Being
Acceptance: To accept that you have Parkinson’s is the first and most important step that needs to be taken in order to take control of the condition.
Choose a good doctor: Find a competent doctor with whom you feel comfortable. A Neurologist or a Movement Disorder Specialist will become an important part of your medical journey with Parkinson’s.
Learn about Parkinson’s and understand your condition: Being informed about Parkinson’s – its causes, symptoms, available treatment and management options from the right sources, will help to anticipate and prepare for potential changes in your life. It is important to understand that your symptoms are unique to you and does not mean that you will experience the same symptoms or problems as someone else. Learn to recognize your own symptoms and share any unusual observations with your doctor and healthcare team.
Maintaining relationships with family, friends or at work: Having Parkinson’s may lead to a communication gap between your loved ones and you. We need to understand that the diagnosis also affects them and they too may be unsure, angry and scared about the condition as you are. At such times, communicating with them helps to reduce misunderstandings and together, you may find different ways of dealing with the problems you may be facing.
Communicate with other people diagnosed with Parkinson’s: This will help to get a better perspective on the condition and its management, and expose you to new techniques on how to deal with your difficulties and problems. Joining a Parkinson’s support centre in your area can help you with this.
Everyday Life:
Exercise: Exercise is very important for people with Parkinson’s. As your symptoms are mild, you should focus on more vigorous exercises involving the whole body. Strenuous exercises for strength, posture, balance, flexibility and endurance will help to reduce the progression of the symptoms and keep your heart and lungs healthy. You may include running, cycling, sports and other high energy activities in your routine under the guidance of a trained professional. You must exercise for 30 minutes to an hour every day. It is the quality of exercise that is most important, so make sure you have learnt the correct exercises from a Physiotherapist before beginning them.
Apart from physical exercises, exercises to maintain your mental health should also be a part of your daily routine. Solving word puzzles, jig-saw puzzles, Sudoku, crosswords, cognition-based games, playing cards, chess, etc. are very simple ways of keeping your mind active.
Also household activities such as maintaining the shopping/grocery list and managing the bank work will help to sharpen attention, memory and calculation skills and thereby exercise your mind functions.
Medications: Medications should be taken regularly and on time. If you experience any unusual changes after taking medicines, share it with your doctor immediately. Do not stop or start taking any medications, or increase or decrease the dosage without consulting your doctor first.
Diet: Making simple, healthy changes to your eating and drinking habits will help to control your symptoms better. Consult a Dietician to help you follow a balanced diet.
Being social: Try continuing to attend outings, social functions, preparing for festivals/religious events, conducting prayer ceremonies, travelling and going on holidays. Engaging yourself in any hobby of your choice- be it cooking, gardening, music, art etc. is very important. Caring for a pet, playing indoor and outdoor games, interacting and spending time with your friends and family should be continued as much as possible. The more physically and mentally active you are, the better control you will have on the condition.
