| Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative movement disorder affecting the dopamine–producing neurons in the brain resulting in motor symptoms such as slow movement, tremor, rigidity, and imbalance. |
There is currently no way to stop this neurologic disorder from progressing, but there are a number of things na maaari mong gawin as a caregiver to your loved one to make managing the disease less overwhelming for both of you at pati na rin sa ibang miyembro ng inyong pamilya.
Improve Home Safety
People with PD, lalo na ang mga may edad na pasyente, are at a high risk of falling due to poor balance or postural instability. Make modifications to your living space upang maiwasan ang panganib ng pagkahulog and its subsequent injuries.
Some things you can do:
- Tiyakin na lahat ng bahagi ng bahay are brightly lit
- Eliminate clutter (especially on the floor) para maiwasan ang madapa
- In the bathroom: place non-slip mats; install grab bars; gumamit ng shower stool with rubber feet para maiwasan ang pagdulas ng upuan
- In the kitchen: make sure that the flooring is even, hindi madulas at laging tuyo
- Rearrange furniture to create clear pathways and additional space para sa mas maluwag na galawan
Establish a Routine
A routine customized to a PD patient’s needs can provide stability, and a sense of normalcy and control over a condition na mas nagiging challenging to manage sa paglaon ng panahon. Malaking tulong din ito sa pagtiyak ng consistency in care at sa pagsiguro na nasusunod ang iskedyul ng pag-inom ng gamot.
Key things to include in your caregiving routine:
- Unhurried snacks and mealtimes
- Adequate time for personal care including bathing and toileting, dressing and grooming, and other personal hygiene needs
- Daily physical activities such as stretching, walking, and moving around the house
- Strict medication and therapy schedules
- Calming bedtime routine and regular sleep schedule
Keep Records
Keep records of symptoms relating to the condition, at maging ng mga iniinom na gamot ng pasyente at ang response nito to medications. As the primary caregiver, saksi ka sa araw-araw na pinagdadaanan ng iyong mahal sa buhay na may Parkinson’s disease at sa progression ng kanyang karamdaman. Such records o ang pagkakaroon ng Parkinson’s diary can be extremely helpful sa pagtukoy ninyo ng inyong healthcare partners sa nararapat na treatment at sa pag-determine ng help that you both need.
Few things to keep track of:
- Motor state on a day-to-day basis
- Symptom severity (and troublesome symptoms)
- Medication list (including dose and frequency) and side effects
- Emotional and behavioral changes
- Details of food and snacks
- How you (and/or other family members) help the patient cope daily
Manage Symptoms
As a definitive cure for Parkinson’s is yet to be discovered, learning to effectively manage symptoms is crucial to help improve your loved one’s quality of life at every stage of the disease. Ang pagkonsulta sa doktor at iba pang healthcare professionals na maaaring makatulong sa inyo ay ugaliin to better determine what Parkinson’s disease treatment is suitable for the patient and when changes in care plan should be considered.
Medications listed below are used to manage motor symptoms of Parkinson’s which are largely due to the brain’s diminishing supply of dopamine.
- Levodopa + Carbidopa (SINEDIN®)
- Dopamine agonists
- Monoamine Oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors
- Catecholamine-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors
- Amantadine
- Anticholinergics
Levodopa is the most commonly prescribed Parkinson’s disease medication. At ayon sa isang report ng World Health Organization, ito ay nananatiling pinaka-epektibong gamot for improving symptoms of the disorder na maaaring makatulong sa pagpapabuti ng quality of life ng pasyente.
| “Levodopa remains the most effective drug for improving most motor and various non-motor symptoms of PD and for improving functioning and quality of life…” (WHO, 2022) |
The addition of carbidopa to levodopa inhibits the breakdown of the latter in the bloodstream, allowing more of it to get to the brain. Ang carbidopa ay nakakatulong din sa pagbawas ng side effects ng gamot gaya ng pagduduwal (nausea) at pagsusuka (vomiting). Ang mahusay na kombinasyong ito ay bunga ng galing ng ating mga eksperto na nagnanais na maghatid ng kalinga to patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Here are more ways to manage the symptoms:
Therapy
- Physical therapy – to help the patient strengthen muscles, improve their coordination and balance, increase mobility
- Occupational therapy – to help the patient stay active and continue to carry out daily activities
- Speech therapy – to help the patient improve speech and communication difficulties
Surgical Treatment Options
- Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
- Ablative surgery
- Transplantation or restorative surgery
Sa pagbuo ng care and treatment plan with your loved one’s healthcare team, remember to include things that will give the patient access to better choices—for you both (and for the rest of the family) to be able to live better lives, even as the condition progresses.
DISCLAIMER: This article is for informational purposes only, and should not be substituted for professional medical advice. The purchase and use of the pharmaceutical products featured in this article requires the proper prescription of a medical doctor. The purchase, possession, and dispensing of ethical drugs without a doctor’s prescription is illegal.
Sources:
DeMaagd, G., & Philip, A. (2015) Parkinson’s Disease and Its Management: Part 1: Disease Entity, Risk Factors, Pathophysiology, Clinical Presentation, and Diagnosis. P T. Aug;40(8):504-32. PMID: 26236139; PMCID: PMC4517533. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4517533/
Farombi, T.H., Owolabi, M.O., Ogunniyi, A. (2016) Falls and Their Associated Risks in Parkinson’s Disease Patients in Nigeria. J Mov Disord.;9(3):160-165.
Pardo-Moreno, T., García-Morales, V., Suleiman-Martos, S., Rivas-Domínguez, A., Mohamed, M., Ramos-Rodríguez, J.J., Melguizo-Rodríguez, L., & González-Acedo, A. (2023). “Current Treatments and New Tentative Therapies for Parkinson’s Disease” Pharmaceutics 15, no. 3: 770. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15030770
World Health Organization (2022) Parkinson disease: a public health approach. Technical brief. Geneva:World Health Organization License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
UCSF Health (n.d) Parkinson’s Disease. The Regents of the University of California https://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/parkinsons-disease /treatment#:~:text=Three%20surgical%20procedures%20are%20performed,and%20transplantation%20or%20restorative%20surgery.
National Parkinson Foundation (2016) Parkinson’s Disease Medications https://www.uclahealth.org/sites/default/files/documents/aa/parkinsons -disease-medications.pdf?f=2e30c416