new year resolution

New Year’s resolutions to help you live well with Parkinson’s disease

For most people, New Year's Eve is the time to look ahead to the promises of the coming year, and reflect on the changes we want to make in our lives. Those of us living with Parkinson’s disease too often find ourselves on the sidelines, afraid to dream in the face of our uncertain future. This is unfair to ourselves and to those who care about us.
Each of us must find our own way to put fear, anger, and sadness behind us and get on with the business of living. Although life will never be the way we had planned in our pre-Parkinson’s days, “different” does not necessarily mean bad. More than 13 years into my own journey with Parkinson’s, I assure you that the daily choices we make will impact our quality of life down the road. I’ve chosen my 10 resolutions for 2012 with this in mind and I am sharing them here to inspire and motivate you to make your own resolutions to put yourself on the path to living well with our shared disease:
1. Make daily exercise a priority. Research reveals it is the one thing that may slow disease progression. It also improves overall health and makes us look and feel better.
2. Get more sleep. Sleeping less than 7 hours a night impairs our ability to concentrate, make decisions, and moderate our emotions. It also contributes to weight gain as well as “excessive daytime sleepiness” and “sleep attacks” that compromise safety behind the wheel and in the workplace.
3. Eat better. The foods we eat impact our fitness level and overall health.
4. Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t. I can do things now that I could not even dream of doing in my pre-Parkinson’s, like swimming half a mile at a time. Friends say I am in the best shape of my life except for the fact that I have PD. Yes, except for that!
5. Live in the moment. Do the best you can today and deal with tomorrow when it comes.
6. Don’t allow Parkinson’s to rob you of the good times still awaiting you. Since learning I had PD I have seen both my sons graduate from college and one from law school, danced at one son’s wedding, welcomed a wonderful daughter-in-law into our family, and seen both sons buy houses and host parties for friends and family. Had I given up from the start, look what I would have missed.
7. Take up a new hobby or learn something new.
8. Volunteer to help others and find new purpose for our lives. Each of us has a gift we can share to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
9. Remain an active participant in your healthcare, learning about clinical trials that may benefit you, regularly visiting the websites of the national Parkinson’s organizations to stay up on the latest Parkinson’s-related news, and attending symposia where I can learn from experts in the field.
10. Spend more time with family and friends, creating a support system that can provide outlets for expressing your feelings. Tending to our emotional health is as important as taking care of our physical health.

If your current mental or physical state is not what you desire, now is the time to change course and alter your destiny. The choice is yours.
Sheryl

medication errors causes of patient injury

medication errors causes of patient injury

Medication errors are one of the most preventable causes of patient injury, although its incidence varies in different healthcare settings. The sources and avoidance of medication errors are multifactorial and multidisciplinary.Healthcare providers and patients and/or their caregivers have their respective roles to play in reducing the occurrence of medication errors.Patients and/or their caregivers can do so by knowing the medicines, understanding and adhering to instructions, monitoring the effects of the medicines and ensuring there is good communication between patients and their healthcare providers.Dr Milton Lum is a member of the board of Medical Defence Malaysia. This article is not intended to replace, dictate or define evaluation by a qualified doctor. The views expressed do not represent that of any organisation the writer is associated

seret recipe behind the mask

Secret recipe behind the mask

Hero TeoKuala Lumpur, Malaysiahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTpu_zBvDMEI

I often smiled when I watched the video recording of my kick-boxing exercise which I uploaded to You Tube. My trainers and videographer told me the same thing – “You do not look like a Parkinson’s patient at all”. Even my doctor shook his head in disbelief and said, “This is shocking. I can’t imagine a 70-year-old Parkinson’s patient doing a very strenuous exercise such as kickboxing. I am sure that you are the only Parkinson’s patient in Malaysia who is doing the kickboxing exercise.”As early as 1998, I already had both the motor and non-motor symptoms. Since my diagnosis in 2002, I went through a period of depression, anxiety, denial and anger. Subsequently, I bounced back after discovering a secret recipe for fighting Parkinson’s, which consisted of: knowledge (is power), exercise, medications, nutrition / supplements and prayer. In my quest for knowledge, I surfed various Parkinson’s websites, raining them with questions, questions and questions. I even started the first Parkinson’s blog in Malaysia (http://www.heroteo.com/). I tried to learn everything about Parkinson’s in order to overcome all complications - the Chinese heroes won the battles by understanding their enemy first. Animal experiments showed that exercise may be neuroprotective. Rats which were forced to exercise had a lesser degree of brain damage after they were exposed to poison. In mice which were made to undergo treadmill exercise, there was increased production of dopamine.Parkinson’s patients are comparable to the car. The medications are needed to help patients to start walking, while fuel or battery is needed to help start the car engine. Exercise is needed to improve the patients’ physical mobility and endurance, while driving helps to recharge the battery. Thus, exercise helps our “engines” warm up before leaving home and keep the “cars” going everyday. Even healthy people such as Bruce Lee, the Chinese Kung Fu master, know that exercise is beneficial. As such, since 2005, I decided to “get physical”. I spend 3-4 hours everyday at the California Fitness gym, doing a wide range of “heavy” exercise such as kick-boxing, weight-training and spinning (indoor cycling). Twice a week, I do yoga exercise at home with the guidance of a trainer.Since this year, my physical condition has drastically improved. I sleep and eat well (I eat to live, and live to eat). I enjoy driving around the Kuala Lumpur city with my wife everyday and going overseas for holiday. I managed to reduce the daily dose of Parkinson’s medications recently. Sometimes, I wonder whether I am just a “normal person” behind the mask.I know that it is technically difficult to prove that exercise has neuroprotective effect in Parkinson’s patients. Despite this, I believe that exercise has slowed down my disease progression. I hope that my video recording will bring hope and happiness to all Parkinson’s patients in this world, by reminding them that they can still live a physically active life.

PD swing their arms asmmetrically

1 (1 votes)People with Parkinson's disease swing their arms asymmetrically -- one arm swings less than the other - when walking. This unusual movement is easily detected early when drugs and other interventions may help slow the disease, according to Penn State researchers who used inexpensive accelerometers on the arms of Parkinson's disease patients to measure arm swing. "Scientists have known for some time that people with Parkinson's disease exhibit reduced arm swing during the later stages of the disease, but no one had come up with an easy way to measure this," said Stephen Piazza, associate professor of kinesiology. "We found that not only do people with the disease exhibit reduced arm swing, but they also exhibit asymmetric arm swing, and this asymmetric arm swing can easily be detected early in the disease's progression." No cure for Parkinson's disease exists, but according to Piazza, if taken early, certain drugs can improve some of the disease's symptoms and even reduce the likelihood of death, making early diagnosis important. Some people also believe that changes in nutrition and other lifestyle factors can modify the progression of the disease. The researchers attached inexpensive accelerometers to the arms of eight Parkinson's disease patients who were in the early stages of the disease - within three years of clinical diagnosis. They also attached the accelerometers to the arms of eight age- and sex-matched people who did not have the disease. The team asked the subjects to walk continuously for about eight minutes at a comfortable pace. The researchers downloaded the acceleration data and used software they developed -- that will be available free to interested doctors - to analyze it. They published their results in the current issue of Gait & Posture. The scientists found significantly higher acceleration asymmetry, lower cross-correlation between the arms and reduced synchronization of the arms in the early Parkinson's disease patients. According to Joseph Cusumano, professor of engineering science and mechanics, the lower cross-correlation and reduced synchronization suggest that the arm movements are poorly coordinated. "In other words, if I measure the location of your right arm, it is difficult to use that measurement to predict the location of your left arm," he said. "It is well known that Parkinson's disease has an impact on how people move - neurologists have been using this fact as the basis for clinical examinations for a very, very long time - but here we are for the first time precisely quantifying how the disease not only affects the relative amount of limb movements, but also how well coordinated in time these movements are." To diagnose patients with Parkinson's disease early, some doctors and scientists have proposed the use of a smell test, because people with the disease lose their ability to distinguish odors, according to Xuemei Huang, movement disorders physician, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. "But conditions other than Parkinson's disease also can affect a person's ability to smell," she said. The Penn State team's method of evaluating arm swing can be applied quickly and inexpensively by primary care physicians in their own offices when the smell test is inconclusive and before the application of an expensive brain scan. "Measuring arm swing asymmetry and coordination with our method may be the cheapest and most effective way to detect Parkinson's disease early in patients' lives when it still is possible to treat the symptoms of the disease and to improve longevity," said Piazza. The scientists plan to further investigate whether the arm swing evaluation in combination with a smell test can enhance early diagnosis even more. They also plan to further develop their technique so that the accelerometers give immediate readings, which, they said, would save the extra step of downloading the data to a computer and analyzing it, thereby making the arm swing assessments of Parkinson's disease even easier

treatment for bipolar disorder

Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

If you suspect that you or someone you know are suffering from bipolar disorder, seek help right away. The earlier you catch bipolar disorder and begin treating it, the better your chances of getting and staying well. An experienced mental health professional can make sure your symptoms are caused by bipolar disorder and get you the treatment you need.
Treatment for bipolar disorder can help you live life on your own terms, without the interference of mood swings. Effective bipolar disorder treatment relieves symptoms, reduces the frequency and intensity of manic and depressive episodes, and restores your ability to function.
In This Article:
What you need to know
Diagnosis
Types of bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder vs. depression
Exploring treatment options
Medication
Therapy
Complementary treatments
Related links
Print Authors
Text Size
Bipolar disorder treatment: What you need to know
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition. It runs an unpredictable course of ups and downs. When left untreated, these ups and downs can be devastating. The recurring manic and depressive episodes that characterize the disease make it difficult to lead a stable, productive life. In the manic phase, you may be hyperactive and irresponsible. In the depressive phase, it may be difficult to do anything at all. Early diagnosis and treatment can help you avoid these problems.
Successful treatment of bipolar disorder depends on a combination of factors. Medication alone is not enough. In order to get the most out of treatment, it's important to educate yourself about the illness, communicate with your doctors and therapists, have a strong support system, make healthy lifestyle choices, and stick to your treatment plan.
Recovering from bipolar disorder doesn’t happen overnight. As with the mood swings of bipolar disorder, treatment has its own ups and downs. Finding the right treatments takes time and setbacks happen. But with careful management and a commitment to getting better, you can get your symptoms under control and live fully.
What are some things I can do that might help me feel better?
Know the difference between your symptoms and your true self. Your health care providers can help you separate your true identity from your symptoms by helping you see how your illness affects your behavior. Be open about behaviors you want to change and set goals for making those changes.
Educate your family and involve them in treatment when possible. They can help you spot symptoms, track behaviors and gain perspective. They can also give encouraging feedback and help you make a plan to cope with any future crises.
Work on healthy lifestyle choices. Recovery is also about a healthy lifestyle, which includes regular sleep, healthy eating, and the avoidance of alcohol, drugs, and risky behavior.
Find the treatment that works for you. Talk to your health care provider about your medications' effects on you, especially the side effects that bother you. There are many options for you to try. It is very important to talk to your health care provider first before you make any changes to your medication or schedule.
Source: Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
Getting an accurate diagnosis for bipolar disorder
Getting an accurate diagnosis is the first step in bipolar disorder treatment. This isn’t always easy. The mood swings of bipolar disorder can be difficult to distinguish from other problems such as major depression, ADHD, and borderline personality disorder. For many people with bipolar disorder, it takes years and numerous doctor visits before the problem is correctly identified and treated.
Making the diagnosis of bipolar disorder can be tricky even for trained professionals, so it’s best to see a psychiatrist with experience treating bipolar disorder rather than a family doctor or another type of physician. A psychiatrist specializes in mental health, and is more likely to know about the latest research and treatment options. For help finding psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals in your community, see Resources and References below

Mania, Depression, Bipolar Disorder and Parkinson Disease Copyrighted Abraham Lieberman MD 4/1/05. Revised 3/22/06 Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, causes marked shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. The highs and lows of bipolar disorder, like the “on” and “offs” of Parkinson people, are different from the ups and downs of every day life. The highs and lows of bipolar disorder, like the “on” and “offs” of PD people can result in strained personal relationships, poor job performance, and even suicide. There are similarities and differences between the highs and lows of bipolar disorder, the mania and depression, and the “on” and “off” periods of PD, the periods of mobility or hyper mobility with dyskinesia. The highs and lows of bipolar disorder usually cycle over days or weeks, the “on” and “offs” of PD people cycle over hours, or minutes. The highs and lows of bipolar disorder occur in no relationship to a known drug or chemical although there is a partial relationship to daily changes in hormones including adrenal cortisol and growth hormone. The “on” and “offs” of PD occur in relationship to the dose of levodopa. There are, however, similarities betweens the highs and lows of bipolar disorder and the “on” and “offs” of PD. PD people when they are “on” are often “high”, they are alert, energetic, creative, similar to people with bipolar disorder when they are “high.” PD people when they are “off” are anxious, depressed, panicky, they will do almost anything to be “on.” In this their behavior resembles people with bipolar disorder who are “low” or “down.” Until we understand why cycling occurs in the brain, we should keep an open mind between the highs and lows of bipolar disorder and the “on” and “offs” of PD. It is of note, however, that drugs such as lithium, or depakote, or lamictal, drugs that stabilize mood in bipolar disorder do not stabilize the “on” and “offs’ of PD. More than 3 million Americans, or about 1.0% of the population, have bipolar disorder. This is 3 times the prevalence of PD. Bipolar disorder usually develops in late adolescence. However, some people develop it late in life. It is often not recognized as a disorder, and people may suffer for years before being diagnosed. Like PD, bipolar disorder is a long-term illness. In some people bipolar disorder, like the “on” and “offs” in PD distorts moods, deranges thoughts, incites bad behaviors, and causes panic. Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly "high" to hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Marked changes in energy and behavior go along with the mood changes. Symptoms of mania include: Increased energy, activity, and restlessness, euphoria, irritability, racing thoughts, fast talking, distractibility, inability to concentrate, need for little sleep, unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities, poor judgment, spending sprees (like the compulsive gambling of some PD people), increased sex drive, abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping pills. Symptoms include intrusive, or aggressive behavior and a denial that anything is wrong. A manic episode is diagnosed if a high occurs most of the day, every day, for 1 week or longer. Mild to moderate mania is called hypomania. Hypomania is associated with a feeling of euphoria and well being. Hypomania, however, if not suspected and treated may lead to mania or depression. Symptoms of depression include: anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, pessimism, guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, lack of interest in activities once enjoyed, decreased energy, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, difficulty in remembering, difficulty in making decisions. The person may sleep too much or be unable to sleep. There may be change in appetite and unintended weight loss or gain. There may be chronic pain or other symptoms that are not caused by a physical illness. There may be thoughts of death. A depressive episode is diagnosed if symptoms last most of the day, every day, for 2 weeks or longer. Sometimes, episodes of mania or depression include psychosis. Common psychosis symptoms include hallucinations such as hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there. The symptoms include delusions such as false, but strongly held beliefs not influenced by logical reasoning. The symptoms of psychosis will reflect whether the person in high, or low. For example, if a person is high he will have delusions of grandiosity, such as believing he is the President , or God, or that he has special powers or wealth. If, however, a person is low he will have delusions of guilt or worthlessness, such as believing that his is ruined or penniless or that he has committed a terrible crime. Similar symptoms of psychosis may appear in some PD people who are evolving a dementia when they are “on” or when they are “off.” Some people with bipolar disorder who have symptoms of a psychosis are incorrectly diagnosed as having schizophrenia. The moods of a person with bipolar disorder form a spectrum. At one end is severe depression, then moderate depression and then mild depression, called the "the blues." Then there is normal mood, hypomania, mania, and mania with psychosis. In some people, however, symptoms of mania and depression may occur together in a “mixed” bipolar state. Symptoms of a mixed state often include agitation, trouble sleeping, marked changes in appetite including binge eating or starvation, psychosis, and suicidal thinking. A person with a “mixed” state may be sad, feel hopeless, and at the same time feel energized. A person with bipolar disorder may be brought to a doctor because of alcohol or drug abuse, poor work performance, or strained personal relations and, initially, the underlying bipolar disorder may not be appreciated by the patient, the family, or the doctor. Like many mental disorders, bipolar disorder cannot yet be identified physically, for example, through a blood test or a brain scan. Therefore, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is made on the basis of initial symptoms, evolution of symptoms, and family history. The diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder are described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV). Descriptions offered by people with bipolar disorder give insights into the moods associated with it. Depression: I doubt my ability to do anything well. It seems as though my mind has slowed down and burned out. I am haunted with the desperate hopelessness of it all. Others say, "It's only temporary, it will pass, you,," but they haven't any idea of how I feel, although they are certain they do. If I can't feel, move, think or care, then what on earth is the point?Hypomania: When I'm high, it's tremendous, ideas comes fast, like shooting stars. . All shyness disappears, the right words and gestures are suddenly there. Uninteresting people become interesting. Sensuality is pervasive, the desire to seduce and be seduced is irresistible. My marrow is infused with unbelievable feelings of power, well-being, omnipotence, euphoria. I can do anything!Mania: The fast ideas become too fast. They are overwhelming, confusion replaces clarity, I can’t keeping up with it—my memory goes. My friends become frightened, I’m irritable, angry, frightened, trapped. Suicide. Some people become suicidal. Anyone who thinks about committing suicide needs immediate help. Anyone who talks about suicide should be taken seriously. Symptoms that may accompany suicidal feelings include: talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless, feeling nothing will change or get better, feeling helpless, feeling a burden, abusing alcohol or drugs, putting personal affairs ins order as a preparation to dying. Symptoms also include writing a suicide, seeking harmful or dangerous situations. If someone is suicidal, call a doctor, an emergency room, or 911 for help. Be certain the suicidal person is not left alone make. Be certain that he or she has no access to dangerous drugs or weapons. While some suicides are carefully planned, others are impulsive acts that have not been well thought out. With proper treatment, suicidal feelings can be overcome. Episodes of mania and depression occur throughout a person’s life. Between episodes, most people with bipolar disorder are free of symptoms, but as many as one-third of them have some residual symptoms. The classic form of the disorder involving recurrent episodes of mania and depression, is called Bipolar I Disorder. Some people, however, never develop

bipolar disorder symptoms

Symptoms of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood. However, symptoms of bipolar can also manifest during childhood, and some bipolar symptoms develop late in life. Bipolar may be difficult to diagnose as an illness, and some people may suffer for years before the mental illness is properly identified and treated.
The deep mood swings of bipolar disorder may last for weeks or months. Research suggests that bipolar disorder manifests a wide range of symptoms. The main characteristics of bipolar disorder are quick changes from mania to depression and back again. The periods of highs and lows are called "episodes". Mood episodes are intense. The feelings are strong and happen along with extreme changes in behavior and energy levels. The signs and symptoms of manic episodes and depressive episodes follow.
Signs of a manic episode/ mania
Agitation
Aggressive behavior
Decreased need for sleep without fatigue
Denial that anything is wrong
Difficulty concentrating
Drug abuse (especially cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications)
Exaggerated optimism
Excessively "high" or euphoric mood
Extreme irritability
Impulsiveness
Increased drive to perform or achieve goals
Increased physical and mental activity and energy
Increased restlessness
Increased sexual drive
Inflated self-esteem
Poor judgment
Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
Racing thoughts jumping from one idea to another
Risky behaviors
Shopping sprees
Talking very fast
Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
Signs of a depressive episode / depression
Chronic pain not caused by physical illness or injury
Decreased energy,
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Feeling fatigued or of being "slowed down"
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Indifference
Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety
Loss of energy, persistent lethargy
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
Restlessness
Sad, anxious, or empty mood
Significant changes in appetite
Sleeping too much, or difficulty sleeping
Social withdrawal
Weight loss or gain (unintentional)
It may be helpful to think of the various mood states in bipolar disorder as a continuous range of moods. At one end is severe depression, which is followed by moderate depression and then mild low mood. Normal or balanced mood is somewhere in the middle of the continuum, after which comes mild to moderate mania and then severe mania.
Bipolar disorder may mimic a problem other than mental illness such as alcohol or drug abuse, poor school or work performance, or strained interpersonal relationships. Such problems, in fact, may be signs of an underlying mood disorder. If you experience any symptoms of bipolar disorder, seek medical help as soon as possible. In order to understand the ins and outs of diagnosis, read the next sectiowhich describes how doctors use a bipolar test here.Read more: Bipolar Disorder Symptoms http://ehealthforum.com/health/bipolar_disorder_symptoms-e88.html#ixzz1gZJX9Ul4

what does this mean?

What does this mean?

PD is movement disorder caused by the brain not producing (enough) dopamine. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure. Someday the symptoms will affect my right leg, them my left arm and leg. Other conditions will also affect my mobility. What’s next? I will be making friends with others who have YOPD. Learning from them about their experiences. Sharing my story with them too. I am not the kind of person to just stand on the sidelines watching. I am sure I will become involved with some local and regional support groups. I will be living every day like any other day pre-YOPD. Admittedly, some things I will be a little slow at. When telling a friend about this situation he said to me, with a look of disbelief on his face, “You like a good challenge. You like to be challenged. You’ll do alright”. I shall maintain a positive mental attitude. I have places to go, people to see and things to do. As with all illnesses there is always hope and advancements in medicine. We will be following the medical research world as they work towards a cure

bipolar and PD

Dear Dr.Oku

,I am gone to research into bipolar and Parkinson's disorders

My experience why ARE the bipolar's medication after side effects SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS ARE pARKINSON'S DISORDERS'\Why Bipolar disorders is curable but not the Parkinson's disorders?THEY ARE THE SAME FAMILY WHY THEY ARE DIFFERENCES?kindly elaborateRegardsTEOKIMHOE
to help the PD patients aware the diseases and encourage to set up support groups to educate the patients and their immediate families






#2 Dr. Okun

Advanced Member

Group: Ask the Doctor Moderators
Posts: 1,927
Joined: 19-January 07
LocationUniversity of Florida
Posted 28 September 2010 - 09:05 AM
Bipolar and PD are two completely different diseases.Interestingly some patients with bipolar can become Parkinsonian from chronic use of dopamine blocking drugs. Sometimes when in the manic phase the PD symptoms improve.Where they get confused is that they share a lot of the same brain circuitry.
Michael S. Okun, M.D.National Medical Director NPFUF Center for Movement Disorders & NeurorestorationRead More about Dr. Okun at: mdc.mbi.ufl.edu

Back to top of the page up there ^

personal stories

Personal Stories
Secret recipe behind the mask
Hero TeoKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTpu_zBvDME
I often smiled when I watched the video recording of my kick-boxing exercise which I uploaded to You Tube. My trainers and videographer told me the same thing – “You do not look like a Parkinson’s patient at all”. Even my doctor shook his head in disbelief and said, “This is shocking. I can’t imagine a 70-year-old Parkinson’s patient doing a very strenuous exercise such as kickboxing. I am sure that you are the only Parkinson’s patient in Malaysia who is doing the kickboxing exercise.”
As early as 1998, I already had both the motor and non-motor symptoms. Since my diagnosis in 2002, I went through a period of depression, anxiety, denial and anger. Subsequently, I bounced back after discovering a secret recipe for fighting Parkinson’s, which consisted of: knowledge (is power), exercise, medications, nutrition / supplements and prayer. In my quest for knowledge, I surfed various Parkinson’s websites, raining them with questions, questions and questions. I even started the first Parkinson’s blog in Malaysia (www.heroteo.com). I tried to learn everything about Parkinson’s in order to overcome all complications - the Chinese heroes won the battles by understanding their enemy first.
Animal experiments showed that exercise may be neuroprotective. Rats which were forced to exercise had a lesser degree of brain damage after they were exposed to poison. In mice which were made to undergo treadmill exercise, there was increased production of dopamine.
Parkinson’s patients are comparable to the car. The medications are needed to help patients to start walking, while fuel or battery is needed to help start the car engine. Exercise is needed to improve the patients’ physical mobility and endurance, while driving helps to recharge the battery. Thus, exercise helps our “engines” warm up before leaving home and keep the “cars” going everyday. Even healthy people such as Bruce Lee, the Chinese Kung Fu master, know that exercise is beneficial.
As such, since 2005, I decided to “get physical”. I spend 3-4 hours everyday at the California Fitness gym, doing a wide range of “heavy” exercise such as kick-boxing, weight-training and spinning (indoor cycling). Twice a week, I do yoga exercise at home with the guidance of a trainer.
Since this year, my physical condition has drastically improved. I sleep and eat well (I eat to live, and live to eat). I enjoy driving around the Kuala Lumpur city with my wife everyday and going overseas for holiday. I managed to reduce the daily dose of Parkinson’s medications recently. Sometimes, I wonder whether I am just a “normal person” behind the mask.
I know that it is technically difficult to prove that exercise has neuroprotective effect in Parkinson’s patients. Despite this, I believe that exercise has slowed down my disease progression. I hope that my video recording will bring hope and happiness to all Parkinson’s patients in this world, by reminding them that they can still live a physically active life.