April is Parkinson's Awareness Month

Did you know it’s estimated that there are nearly one million people in the United States living with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), and 4.1 million sufferers worldwide?  Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that is chronic and progressive, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over time. The cause is unknown, and although there is presently no cure, there are treatment options such as medication and surgery to manage symptoms.
Parkinson’s disease occurs when a group of brain cells that produce a chemical called dopamine begin to malfunction and die. Dopamine, which acts as a messenger, sends information to the parts of the brain that control movement and coordination.
When a person has Parkinson’s disease, their dopamine-producing cells begin to die and the amount of dopamine produced in the brain decreases. Messages from the brain telling the body how and when to move are therefore delivered more slowly, leaving a person incapable of initiating and controlling movements in a normal way.  Two common symptoms include shaking or tremors, and a shuffling walk.  Left untreated, these symptoms can significantly diminish a person’s quality of life and overall health.
To learn more about Parkinson’s disease and Parkinsons Awareness, visit The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, or call our office at 704-909-7958.