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| Four Seasons Hemet Herald | October 2014 | 10 Health Matters Q: Question: What is Parkinson's Disease and Parkin- son's Dementia? A: Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system that causes tremors, muscle stiffness, slowness of movement and poor balance and mobility. A di- agnosis of Parkinson's disease can be devastating for both the patient and their family. But, that doesn't mean there isn't hope. While there is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease, there are a variety of treatments and self-help strategies that can signifi- cantly reduce the symptoms and enable you to enjoy a full and meaningful life. Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological disorder re- sulting from nerve cells in the brain not producing enough of the chemical dopamine, which regulates movement. Parkinson's de- velops gradually, often starting on one side of the body as a slight tremor in one hand, for example. As the disorder progresses, the trembling may spread to both sides of the body and be accom- panied by other symptoms such as muscle stiffness, slowing of movement, and deterioration in balance and coordination. Self-help tips for living with Parkinson's disease are 1) Learn all you can about Parkinson's disease. The more you know the more control you'll feel and better you'll be able to cope with symptoms; 2) Reduce stress; 3) Physical Therapy is often rec- ommended by doctors and is very beneficial; 4) Avoid isolation. Reach out to family members and friends. Join support groups so you can be with other people facing the same challenges; and 5) Exercise can also greatly ease symptoms as well as reduce stress and boost your mood. Parkinson's dementia is a less common feature of Parkinson's disease. A number of people with Parkinson's disease will de- velop Parkinson's disease dementia. Parkinson's patients who experience hallucinations and more sever motor control prob- lems are at risk for dementia. For those patients with Parkin- son's disease who go on to develop dementia, there is usually at least a 10 to 15 year lag time between their Parkinson's diagnosis and the onset of dementia. Parkinson's dementia is similar to Lewy Body Dementia. Lewy Body is characterized by fluctua- tion in alertness and attention, recurrent visual hallucinations, and a Parkinson's patient shows motor symptoms like rigidity and the loss of spontaneous movement. For more information go to www.helpguide.org/elder/parkinsons_disease.htm Inland Empire Hospice soon to be… Air Conditioning & Heating Residential Sales & Service Have You Serviced Your System Lately? Monte Beach State Lic. #C20-278262 • All Major Credit Cards Accepted 55 Years Experience • Solera Resident (951) 845-6889 • (909) 768-8933 Family Owned & Operated • Maintenance Contracts • HVAC Consultants • Thermostats • Filters • Heating & Air Conditioning Service • We Carry Parts