The mainstay of your diet should be targeted nutrition in order to stay as healthy as possible with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Diets based on whole foods and plants have many health benefits.
The benefits of a diet that includes whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and protein-rich foods are not specific to PD. These foods or food groups should be added to your diet: greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries, nuts, and seeds.
Fad diets should be avoided. In order to get enough energy, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber, it is necessary to eat a variety of foods.
In addition to optimizing medication, maintaining bone strength, fighting constipation, losing weight, and maintaining overall health, we help with eating the right foods and will also help you stay fit and healthy.
It is possible for diet and Parkinson’s medications to interact. An empty stomach is the best time to take carbidopa/levodopa medications. These medications, however, may cause nausea in some people, and they shouldn’t be taken on an empty stomach. Therefore, it is important to get in touch with your doctor regarding your medication regimen.
A protein-rich meal, like fish or meat, eggs, dairy products, nuts, or beans, may interfere with the absorption of certain PD medications, making them less effective or more slowly absorbed. Your doctor can advise you on whether to take the drug on an empty stomach or with a small snack, such as crackers or applesauce.
Tips for Getting Started:
Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that causes motor symptoms such as stiffness, bradykinesia (slowness), resting tremor, and postural instability that can lead to falls. In people who have symptoms of Parkinson’s, but the cause is unknown, the condition may be referred to as parkinsonism. There is at present no cure for Parkinson’s, and no treatments have been proven to change the course of the disease. However, many people with Parkinson’s can improve their symptoms and quality of life with effective treatment options.
Symptoms and severity can vary widely between individuals with parkinsonism. There is no standard treatment for Parkinson’s. Guidelines for Parkinson’s treatments are based on what symptoms a person has, the severity of the symptoms, how long they have had Parkinson’s, which type and stage of Parkinson’s they have, tolerance of side effects, the age of the person, and any other health conditions they have or medications they use. Some treatments are highly effective for one type of Parkinson’s, but ineffective for others. In most people, medications gradually lose their effectiveness as the disease progresses.
Exercise can help everyone stay healthy and feel their best. For people with Parkinson’s, exercise offers important additional benefits. Getting regular exercise can reduce motor symptoms of Parkinson’s, slow the progression of the disease, and improve mood. A regular exercise routine can also help protect against the development of Parkinson’s in those who may be at risk.
What does it involve?
Always check with your doctor before beginning a new exercise regimen. Consider consulting with a physical therapist to develop a customized exercise plan. Most types of exercise can be adapted to accommodate those with Parkinson’s.
People with any stage or severity of Parkinson’s Disease can benefit from exercise. Doctors and researchers agree that the more exercise you do, the more benefit you will receive from the activity. Research also indicates that the more intensely you exercise, the better. When you exercise, do it intensely enough that your heart beats faster and you are breathing hard.
Whatever type of exercise you choose, follow these general safety guidelines. Always begin your workout session with a gradual warm-up and take time to cool down afterward. Warming up and cooling down will help prevent sore or pulled muscles. Exercise should be somewhat challenging, but never a struggle. Stay hydrated with plenty of cool liquids, choosing beverages without caffeine.
It is important to choose a type of exercise you will enjoy. Consider joining a dance class, boxing class, or yoga class to keep you motivated and incorporate social aspects. Aerobic exercise can take many forms. Walking on a treadmill, riding a stationary or recumbent bike, climbing stairs, or swimming can all provide effective exercise. Resistance training such as lifting weights can be done seated, and it can involve as light a weight as you are comfortable lifting. Even small amounts of weight or resistance – for instance, lifting your arms or legs repeatedly against gravity – provide benefits. Be creative. Activities such as gardening and walking a pet can help you stay active and healthy.
It is important not to become discouraged early on when beginning an exercise regimen. At first, try to exercise for 10 minutes each day. As you become accustomed to the activity, exercise for longer periods every day. Focus on finding ways of staying active that are safe, enjoyable and easy to do regularly. If you experience new or worse Parkinson’s symptoms or side effects from medications, adjust your workout program to keep it safe and rewarding.
Regular, intense exercise has also been proven to help protect against the development of Parkinson’s Disease. Some neurologists recommend that people who have relatives with Parkinson’s maintain a rigorous exercise routine to decrease their risk.
Intended Outcomes
Exercise can help you achieve and maintain your best physical and psychological condition. A regular exercise regimen can reduce Parkinson’s symptoms such as tremor, gait, coordination, flexibility, and grip strength. Exercise might protect your brain from disease progression. Regular exercise can help you avoid falls and recover more quickly. Physical exercise can increase strength, promote healthy weight, stave off heart disease and osteoporosis, and improve your mood and self-esteem.
Results
An article published in 2014 studied exercise in 4,866 people with Parkinson’s Disease. After one year, participants who exercised regularly showed better quality of life, less cognitive decline, improved mobility, function, and mood, and less burden for caregivers.
Constraints
Some medication side effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, and nausea, can make it difficult to stay motivated to keep up with exercise.
If you exercise too hard, you may feel more pain than usual for a day or two afterward. Soreness is a sign that you should take it a little easier next time. If one type of exercise does not work for you, consider trying another.
Multiple System Atrophy (MSA)
A rare, degenerative neurological disorder affecting your body’s involuntary (autonomic) functions, including blood pressure, and motor control.
Formerly called Shy-Drager syndrome, olivopontocerebellar atrophy or striatonigral degeneration. MSA shares many symptoms with PD, such as slow movement, rigid muscles and poor balance.
Treatment includes medications and lifestyle changes to help manage symptoms, but there is no cure. The condition progresses gradually and eventually leads to death.
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) affects many parts of your body. Symptoms usually start in adulthood, usually in the 50s or 60s.
There are two types of MSA: parkinsonian and cerebellar. The type depends on the symptoms you have when you’re diagnosed.
Parkinsonian type: This is the most common type of MSA. The signs and symptoms are similar to those of Parkinson’s disease, such as: Stiff muscles, Difficulty bending your arms and legs, Slow movement (bradykinesia), Tremors can occur at rest or when moving your arms or legs, Soft voice, Problems with posture and balance
Cerebellar type: The main signs and symptoms are problems with muscle coordination (ataxia), but others may include: Impaired movement and coordination, such as unsteady gait and loss of balance, Slurred, slow or low-volume speech (dysarthria), Visual disturbances, such as blurred or double vision and difficulty focusing your eyes, Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or chewing, Changes in speech, such as slurred speech
General Signs and Symptoms: In addition, the primary sign of multiple system atrophy is autonomic failure, which may cause problems with body functions you can’t control. This may include:
Postural (orthostatic) hypotension: a form of low blood pressure that makes you feel dizzy or lightheaded, or even faint, when you stand up from sitting or lying down. Not everyone with MSA has postural hypotension.
You can also develop dangerously high bp levels while lying down (supine hypertension).
Urinary and bowel dysfunction: Constipation, Loss of bladder or bowel control (incontinence)
Changes in sweat production: Producing less sweat, Heat intolerance due to reduced sweating, Impaired body temperature control, often causing cold hands or feet.
Sleep disorders: Agitated sleep due to “acting out” dreams, Abnormal breathing at night or a harsh breathing sound (stridor)
Sexual dysfunction: Inability to achieve or maintain an erection (impotence), Loss of libido
Cardiovascular problems: Color changes in hands and feet caused by pooling of blood
Psychiatric problems: Difficulty controlling emotions, such as laughing or crying inappropriately
There’s no known cause for multiple system atrophy (MSA). Some researchers are studying a possible inherited component or involvement of an environmental toxin in the disease process, but there’s no substantial evidence to support these theories.
MSA causes deterioration and shrinkage (atrophy) of portions of your brain (cerebellum, basal ganglia and brainstem) that affect internal body functions and motor control.
Under a microscope, the damaged brain tissue of people with MSA shows nerve cells (neurons) that contain an unusual amount of a protein called alpha-synuclein. Some research suggests that there may be too much buildup of this protein in multiple system atrophy.
The progression of MSA varies, but the condition does not go into remission. As the disorder progresses, daily activities become more difficult.
Possible complications include: Breathing problems during sleep,Injuries from falls caused by poor balance or fainting, Progressive immobility that can lead to secondary problems such as a breakdown of your skin, Loss of ability to care for yourself in day-to-day activities, Vocal cord paralysis, which makes speech and breathing difficult, Increased difficulty swallowing.
People typically live about 7 to 10 years after multiple system atrophy symptoms first appear. However, the survival rate with MSA varies widely. Death is often due to respiratory problems, infections or blood clots in the lungs (pulmonary embolus).