Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common nervous system disorders. Nearly 127,000 people in the Uk have Parkinsons and that is 1 in every 500 people. Most people who get Parkinson's are aged 50 or over but younger people can get it too.

There's currently no cure for Parkinson's and we don't yet know why people get the condition. Parkinson's doesn't directly cause people to die, but symptoms do get worse over time. Many of the symptoms are managed by drugs and treatments which aids in maintaining quality of life. 

Parkinson’s disease damages part of the brain which eventually leads to tremors, your muscles are effected by stiffness and also people start to move more slowly.  An important part of helping people with Parkinson’s disease is to help them have their independence and enjoy activities important to them.

Occupational Therapists give advice about hobbies, everyday tasks and recommendations on how to make their living and work space more manageable. Physiotherapist also can help by improving fitness levels and flexibility.

It is very important to receive advice from a dietician they will want to ensure your fluid intake is high as people with this condition need to keep hydrated to help reduce muscle cramping and also have lots of fibre in their diet as constipation is common in Parkinson’s disease.

They will also advice on increasing the amount of salt to boost blood pressure as this is generally low in sufferers.  As Parkinson's progresses, an increased amount of care and support may be required, although many people maintain a good quality of life with limited care or treatment.

Many famous people who has this disease include the boxing legend Mohammed Ali, actors Michael J Fox and Bob Hoskins, comedian Billy Connolly and also boxing trainer Freddie Roach who was once a boxer himself.Bluebird Care Northumberland South supports Parkinson Awareness week.

Please help us find a cure for this disease. If you would like to donate then please click on the link below www.parkinsons.org.uk/content/donate