Is parkinson a rich man disease?

Joined: 03 Mar 2007Posts: 28Location: Malaysia
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:46 am Post subject: Is Parkinson's a rich man disease?

Dear Teo, I agree with you. PD is a rich man disease and I feel that the support in Singapore is not sufficient too. If you got to the government hospital, getting an appointment can be up to 4 weeks or even longer. Doctors are unreachable and when you page for the doctors, it is at their own discreet to return call. Unless you have $ to attend a private clinic, then the doctor are more willing to talk to you but for long term, it is very heavy burden for average income family. Angeline Lua_________________to help the PD patients aware the diseases and encourage to set up support groups to educate the patients and their immediate families
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cowboyJoined: 03 Oct 2007Posts: 121
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:35 am Post subject:

Teo, what are you really asking? Do the middle class and poor in Singapore receive substandard treatment for Parkinson's? Or does it seem only the upper income contract Parkinson's? This is an important question that I will consider concerning the U.S. What is the socio-eco class average for those who contract Parkinson's and what is the difference in treatment.
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teokimhoeJoined: 03 Mar 2007Posts: 28Location: Malaysia
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 4:44 am Post subject: Parkinson is not a rich man disease

Is Parkinson's a rich man disease? It is not a rich man disease. It can affect anyone in the world. Do you agree is it an ageing disease?It is a movement disorders It is estimated out of 2-3% at the age above 50 years old are Parkinson disease suffers. Unfortunately we are shortage of PD specialists. As the result some are wrongly diagnosed as ageing and no medications are given to slowdown the disease. Exercises and medications are possibilities to slowdown the disease but they are not for treatment. PD has 5 stages slowdown your movements.Every stage takes 3 -5 years to develop. Most PD dies at pneumonia, liver or kidney disease TEOKIMHOE_________________to help the PD patients aware the diseases and encourage to set up support groups to educate the patients and their immediate families
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teokimhoeJoined: 03 Mar 2007Posts: 28Location: Malaysia
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 4:50 am Post subject: Is Parkinson's a rich man disease?

I refer to your email Parkinson's is not a rich man disease. The writer means that Parkinson's patient takes many weeks to consult the doctor if you visiting the goverment's hospital where the charge is cheaper than the private doctors. There are shortage of movement disorder doctors. TEOKIMHOE_________________to help the PD patients aware the diseases and encourage to set up support groups to educate the patients and their immediate families
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teokimhoeJoined: 03 Mar 2007Posts: 28Location: Malaysia
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 5:55 am Post subject: Is Parkinson's a rich man disease?

The writer said that the Parkinson's disease is not "going away" disease. Therefore the medication is a burden to her. It is cheaper to go to government hospital rather than the private clinic. It is inconvinence caused for her to take times to recieve the treatment. Therefore the writer said that Parkinson's disease is a rich man disease. TEOKIMHOE_________________to help the PD patients aware the diseases and encourage to set up support groups to educate the patients and their immediate families
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cowboyJoined: 03 Oct 2007Posts: 121
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 8:06 am Post subject:

Thank you Teo. I understand better now.

Slowness

A feeling of slowness of "bradykinesia" is one of the cardinal symptoms of Parkinson's disease. People may have to concentrate very hard to carry out physical movements, or they may react more slowly to things going on in their environment. Some people also have trouble initiating movement

Stiffness/ spasticity

More about Stiffness/spasticity
Stiffness, spasticity, and increased tone all refer to an increased level of muscle contraction in its resting state. A normal limb is floppy when relaxed and can easily be moved through a passive range of motion by a neurologist. A spastic limb or one with increased tone may rest in an abnormal, contracted position, or provide resistance when moved through a range of motion.In ALS, spasticity is a sign of upper motor neurone damage and can occur in any part of the body including the limbs and tongue. Treatment is usually pharmacological but may involve physical therapy such as massage or hydrotherapy. Spasticity can be more marked in patients with the upper motor neurone-predominant form of the disease, primary lateral sclerosis.In MS, spasticity is also associated with neurone damage, and is more commonly found in the legs than other regions. There are three types of symptoms associated with spasticity in MS: Spasms; powerful uncontrollable muscle contractions which can be extremely painful and can be triggered in many ways eg coughing, sneezing or a full bladder,Clonus; a repetitive movement, such as a constant tapping of the ball of the foot, and Contracture; when muscles become shortened and fix a limb in one position. (read more about spasticity in MS at World of MS)In Parkinson's disease, spasticity may take the form of dystonia, characterised by sustained muscle contractions causing stiffness, twisting, or immobility. Although dystonia can occur in any part of the body, it most commonly occurs in PD in the feet or hands.
This information should not be considered medical advice. Consult your doctor before utilizing any treatments described here.

Fatigue

Fatigue may refer to several things in neurological diseases:1.) A generalized lack of energy. 2.) A reduction in the force of individual muscle contractions; overlaps with weakness and atrophy.3.) A psychological state consistent with apathy, inertia, or lack of motivation such as occurs in depression. 4.) Daytime sleepiness caused by poor sleep quality or medication side effects. The management of fatigue is important because it is associated with poor quality of life. There are several targets for treatment. Firstly, sleep quality must be considered. Poor sleep hygiene, anxiety, inability to turn in bed, pain, or breathing difficulties could cause insomnia, leading to daytime sleepiness, irritability, and poor cognitive function. Treatment of these underlying causes may be beneficial. Secondly, poor respiratory function could lead to lack of oxygen for the brain and muscles. Non-invasive ventilation either at night or for periods of the day may be helpful. Thirdly, mood factors such as anxiety and depression can cause psychological feelings of fatigue or inertia, which may respond to drugs or counseling. Finally, a wakefulness-promoting agent such as Modafinil may be prescribed to combat fatigue.

Anxiety

Anxiety is an unpleasant complex combination of emotions that includes fear, apprehension and worry, and is often accompanied by physical sensations such as palpitations, nausea, chest pain and/or shortness of breath.Anxiety can occur normally in everyday life, for instance in anticipation of public speaking or making a big decision. It can serve an adaptive function, in terms of preparing the body for action via the "fight or flight" response, or it can be maladaptive, as in the case of the anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).In neurological conditions, anxiety may be experienced at several stages of the disease. During the diagnostic process people can feel anxious as there is uncertainty hanging over their future. Some individuals even report a sense of relief upon receiving their diagnosis. Further on in the disease course, specific forms of anxiety may present which relate to going out in public. The use of walking aids such as a stick or wheelchair, problems eating in a restaurant, or even emotional lability can all make social outings an anxiety-provoking occasion. A common reaction is to attempt to avoid such situations altogether, particularly following a bad experience. However, the evidence suggests that maintaining a strong social support network is important in maintaining quality of life. In later stages of the disease, anxiety may focus on breathing difficulties or falls, with increased anxiety leading to hyperventilation, leading to more difficulty breathing, and so on in a cycle. The use of antianxylotic drugs or relaxation techniques may be helpful here. It is important to note that in many cases there is an overlap between depression and anxiety; however there are several ways to differentiate between the two. Anxiety is often associated with physical signs of stress such as sweaty palms, racing thoughts, "butterflies in the tummy", or heart palpitations. Conversely the physical signs of depression are characterised by loss of energy, lack of pleasure in normally pleasant activities, loss of appetite, and loss of libido. In terms of thoughts, anxiety includes intrusive worrying which is unpleasant and difficult to suppress, with a particular focus on avoiding anxiety-inducing situations. Whilst such thoughts can occur in depression, these tend to focus on negative beliefs about the individual ("I am a bad person"), the world ("Other people don't like me"), or the future ("My situation is hopeless").
This information should not be considered medical advice. Consult your doctor before utilizing any treatments described

Insomina

Insomina is characterized by an inability to sleep and/or to be incapable of remaining asleep for a reasonable period. It is often caused by fear, stress, anxiety, medications, herbs, caffeine or sometimes for no apparent reason. Difficulty sleeping affects most people at some stage of their lives, and causes a variety of problems such as daytime sleepiness, sudden onset of sleep during the day, poor concentration, low mood, irritability, or fatigue. In neurological diseases there can be several causes including poor sleep hygiene, pain, medication, ability to turn in bed, anxiety, or depression. An important factor to consider is breathing ability. Sleep apnea can occur due to weakness of the respiratory muscles. Daytime sleepiness, poor cognitive function, and waking up with a headache (not due to alcohol) are all warning signs.Sleep apnea is a condition that occurs when a sleeping person's breathing is interrupted, thus interrupting the normal sleep cycle. With the obstructive form of the condition, some part of the sleeper's respiratory tract loses muscle tone and partially collapses. People with obstructive sleep apnea often do not remember any of this, but they complain of excessive sleepiness during the day. Central sleep apnea interrupts the normal breathing stimulus of the central nervous system, and the individual must actually wake up to resume breathing. Sleep apnea often responds well to non-invasive ventilation. Where insomnia is caused by other factors such as stress, depression, or pain, treatment of these underlying conditions should be considered a priority.
This information should not be considered medical advice. Consult your doctor before utilizing any treatments described here.

Depression

Clinical depression (also called major depressive disorder, or sometimes unipolar when compared with bipolar disorder) is a state of intense sadness, melancholia or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individual's social functioning and/or activities of daily living. Although a low mood or state of dejection that does not affect functioning is often colloquially referred to as depression, clinical depression is a clinical diagnosis and may be different from the everyday meaning of "being depressed". Many people identify the feeling of being depressed as "being blue", "feeling sad for no reason", or "having no motivation to do anything". One suffering from depression may feel tired, sad, irritable, lazy, unmotivated, and apathetic. Clinical depression is generally acknowledged to be more serious than normal depressed feelings.
The relationship between depression and neurological disease is complex. Whilst many patients report transient episodes of depression, the prevalence of diagnosed clinical depression is thought to be relatively low. Diagnosis is made more complicated by the fact that several diagnostic markers of depression, such as insomnia, fatigue, and loss of appetite can be symptoms of the primary disease rather than depression. However they could also be symptoms of depression which are falsely attributed to the primary condition.
Evidence from neurology (and general practice) suggests that doctors may not give sufficient attention to patients' mental state, preferring to focus on physical disability. Therefore it is important that patients routinely mention their mental state during doctor visits and ask for help where it is needed.