doctor-examines-brain-scans We recently recognized National Parkinson’s Awareness, and thought it would be fitting for the healthcare providers here at Family Practice Center to turn our attention to this most serious health concern. Our goal is never to scare our patients, but only to educate them about topics like this, as patient education is a responsibility that we do take extremely seriously. Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the nervous system that affects the body and its ability to move over time. We wanted to present some helpful information and statistics about Parkinson’s disease to help inform and educate our readers, as well as offer some tips.

According to statistics collected by the Parkinson’s Foundation, Parkinson’s Disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease, behind only Alzheimer’s disease. Almost one million adults in the US are currently living with Parkinson’s. Unfortunately, experts in the medical field expect this number to increase to 1.2 million by 2030. Each year, nearly 90,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease are diagnosed in the US. The risk of developing Parkinson’s increases significantly with age, as roughly 96% of cases are diagnosed at age 50 or later. And while Parkinson’s disease affects both men and women, men are 50% more likely to develop the condition than women.

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be different depending on each specific person. In many cases, early symptoms can be mild to the point that they may be essentially unnoticeable. For some people, symptoms may begin on one side of the body, then eventually come to affect both sides. One very common early symptom is a very slight tremor in one hand, or in one foot or the jaw. Other early warning signs to be on the lookout for include muscle stiffness, slowing of movement, and difficulty maintaining balance. Over time, symptoms can become considerably more severe and eventually debilitating.

Unfortunately, the exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is not yet known, which means there is no surefire way to prevent it or cure it once it has developed. However, there is research that indicates that certain lifestyle factors can possibly help lower a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s. According to the Mayo Clinic, this includes exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy body weight, drinking caffeinated beverages including coffee and green tea, and regularly taking certain medications including ibuprofen and statins.

Being aware of conditions like Parkinson’s and the risks that they pose is an important part of preventive wellness maintaining long-term health as we age. For more information on our family medicine services or to schedule an appointment at one of our nine metro Atlanta area locations, please contact Family Practice Center. Stay up to date on our blog posts for more health and wellness tips, and news.