Risk Factors

There are several risk factors for Parkinson's that people should be aware of, they include age because the risk for Parkinson's increases with age. The average age for someone to be diagnosed with...

There are several risk factors for Parkinson’s that people should be aware of, they include age because the risk for Parkinson’s increases with age. The average age for someone to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease is 65. Heredity is another risk factor for Parkinson’s. If you have a family member or a close relative who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease your risk increases by 5% for each family member. Another risk factor is sex; men are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than women. Exposure to toxins on an ongoing basis slightly increases your risks especially herbicides and pesticides.

It is important to seek medical advice and diagnosis for any symptom that has you concerned because you are not only getting a diagnosis for possible Parkinson’s disease but you will be ruling out other diseases as well. Early diagnosis means early treatment and early treatment can delay or better manage your disease which can have a positive impact on future years with the disease.

Complications of Parkinson’s disease include problems that can stem from having the disease such as depression, sleep difficulties, difficulty in chewing or swallowing, urinary problems, constipation and sexual difficulties. Depression can be treated with medications. Not only can people with Parkinson’s experience difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep but they can also experience sleep onset, which is called “sleep attacks” which can happen during the day. The muscles in your mouth that assist you in swallowing and chewing can be affected by the later stage of Parkinson’s making it difficult to swallow or chew. Urinary issues such as urine retention, and urine incontinence are common with Parkinson’s disease and can be controlled or managed by medications. Constipation occurs in this disease because the digestive tract slows down or it can also be a side effect from certain medications give in the treatment of the disease. Sexual dysfunction may be the result of psychological and or physical factors as a combination or it may be resulting from physical factors by themselves.

The complications can come as a result of the disease itself as it progresses or it may be as a result of medications for the treatment of the disease. Some of the side effects of the medications prescribed for Parkinson’s disease include twitching or making jerking movements of either the arms or the legs, hallucinations, sleepiness, and also a drop of blood pressure when standing up rapidly. This can be dangerous. Your doctor should be monitoring any side effects you experience when taking medications. Remember to tell your doctor immediately if you have any side effects from taking medications. Your doctor can adjust your medication dosage, or switch you to another medication in order to avoid the unwanted side effects.

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