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Parkinson's Disease: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Early Signs of PD
Read about the early signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease to see if you might have the symptoms that come with the onset of PD.
Cogwheeling
A brief definition of cogwheeeling motion.
Risk Factors
Factors that indicate a person's risk for Parkinson's disease include age, gender, genetics, exposire to toxins, and other factors. Learn more about the risk factors for Parkinson's disease here.
Mistaken Diagnosis
There are several movement disorders that mimic key signs and symptoms of PD. it is therefore important that your physician rule out these other disorders. Here is some essential information on disorders that mimic some signs of PD.
Resting Tremor in PD
While doctors are not completely sure what causes the resting tremor in Parkinson's disease, it is believed that lowered dopamine levels in the brain cause it to become unable to control movements.
Pain in Parkinson's Disease
Severe and chronic pain associated with Parkinson's disease can be treated if you tell your doctor about it. Read about the causes and treatments of pain associated with PD.
Exercise and PD
Find out how exercise will benefit people with Parkinson's and what you should do.
Finding a PD Neurologist
Learn the right questions to ask when looking for the best neurologist to work with you.
Neck Pain in Women from PD
Neck pain in woman may be an early sign of Parkinson's disease.
Sexual Problems in PD
Learn about sexual problems in Parkinson's disease, what causes them, and what can be done.
Sleep and PD
Learn about how Parkinson's disease affects your sleep, from REM behavior disorder to insomnia.
Speech Problems in PD
Learn about the causes of speech problems in Parkinson's disease, and find out what treatments, like Lee Silverman voice treatments, can do to help.
Masked Facies
a brief definition of "masked facies"
Diet in Early PD
Find out what foods are rich in antioxidants and how to include them in your diet.
Dopamine Medications
Medications that increase the level of dopamine in the brain are the most popular treatment for Parkinson's Disease. Read more about drug therapies here.
Protein and Medications
Find out how protein interacts with levodopa medications for Parkinson's disease, and how to manage the protein in your diet so that it does not change the effectiveness of your medication.
Diet in PD
Find out all about how your Parkinson's affects your weight, what foods and nutrients you need, and what you should to to manage your diet.
Can I Inherit PD?
Find out whether your genes put you at risk for Parkinson's disease.
Driving With PD
People with Parkinson's disease are still able to drive, but you should keep in mind that certain symptoms may arise with PD that could make driving dangerous. To avoid accidents, monitor your symptoms to decide when to stop driving.
Mood and Memory Changes in PD
Find out how and why Parkinson's disease affects your memory and mood.
What is PD?
PD is a brain disorder involving loss of the chemical messenger dopamine. It is a progressive disorder, meaning that it typically gets worse over the years. Dopamine normally controls muscle activity so PD primarily affects movement. Its three cardinal signs are tremor (trembling which usually starts in one hand), rigidity in the trunk or limbs and slowness of movement.
Sleep, Mood and Memory
Some of the most troubling symptoms of PD are the non-motor symptoms such as mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems and mood problems.
What are ICD's?
Find out what causes Parkinson's patients to find trouble controlling impulsive behaviors like gambling, sex, spending, and eating.
Treatment for PD
Learn about different drug therapies, surgical treatments, and physical treatments for patients with Parkinson's disease.
UPDRS
Find out what the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) is.
Coping with Sexual Problems
Learn about sexual problems in Parkinson's disease, what causes them, and what can be done.
List of Meds Used to Treat PD
A list of the medications commonly used to treat medications with descriptions and descriptions of how they work.
Can PD Be Cured?
Find out what can be done about Parkinson's disease.
Family Care for PD
Caregiving for a family member with Parkinson's disease can be very stressful. Read about what resources are available to caregivers.
Depression in PD
What are the characteristics of depression in Parkinson's disease, and how is it treated?
Will My Children Have PD?
Find out whether Parkinson's disease is hereditary.
Lee Silverman Voice Treatment
Find out how Lee Silverman Voice Treatment can help speech and language problems in Parkinson's disease.
Is My Stiff Shoulder PD?
If you've been feeling stiffness in your shoulders, find out whether it might be related to your Parkinson's Disease
Drooling in Parkinson's
Find out why people with Parkinson's disease have excess saliva and drool, and what can be done to help.
Weght Loss in PD
Find out why some Parkinson's patients find that they lose weight unexpectedly.
Urinary Incontinence in PD
People with Parkinson's disease may have to deal with urinary incontinence. Find out what you can do about urinary incontinence here.
Review of "Always Looking Up"
A review of Michael J. Fox's 2009 book, "Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist," from the About.com Guide to Parkinson's Disease.
When to Tell Your Boss
Learn how to go about telling your boss and coworkers about your Parkinson's disease, and what options are available to you as a worker.
History of PD Treatment
Looking at the history of the development of treatments for Parkinson's disease, there is hope that new treatments will continue to emerge that slow the progression of PD.
Do Only Old People Get PD?
Learn what age groups can develop Parkinson's disease.
Freezing
Find out what "freezing" is in Parkinson's disease.
Speech and Voice in PD
Speech therapy can help not just speech, but several functions in people with Parkinson's disease.
Receiving a diagnosis
Some tips and suggestions on what to do when you have just been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Do not let PD define who you are.
Antioxidant Therapies
Neuroprotective therapies hold promise for slowing progression of Parkinson's disease because they can protect the cells that produce dopamine. Here is a summary of existing and upcoming neuroprotective therapies for PD.
Rigidity
What is Rigidity?
Impact of PD on Relationships
Find out how to deal with the effects Parkinson's disease might have on your relationship with your spouse, family, friends, and yourself.
What Can I Take for PD Pain?
Find out what causes pain in Parkinson's disease, what you can do to alleviate your pain, and what over-the counter pain medications are best.
On-Off Phenomenon
A brief definition of the on-off phenomenon.
Alternative Therapies for PD
Find out what alternative medicine therapies can help you live with Parkinson's disease.
Treating ICD's
Find out how to treat compulsive behaviors like gambling, hypersecuality, compulsive spending, compulsive eating, and punding caused by Parkinson's disease medications.
Famous People with PD
Personality correlates of Parkinson's disease can create the right setting for creativity and success. Find out how people with Parkinson's disease achieve great success.
Gastrointestinal Effects of PD
Find out what the gastrointestinal effect of Parkinson's disease can be.
Fatigue and PD
Find out why people get fatigued with Parkinson's disease.
Fatigue in PD
Find out all about fatigue in Parkinson's disease, how it is diagnosed, and what you can do to cope with it.
Is There a PD Personality?
Find out if there is a "Parkinson's personality."
Postural Instability
A brief definition of postural instability.
Treating Dyskinesias
Find out how dyskinesias are treated.
Visual Disturbances and PD
Parkinson's disease can cause visual disturbances.
Dyskinesia
A brief definition of dyskinesia.
Coping With Awkward Situations
Parkinson's disease can cause awkward situations in every day life. Here are some helpful tips on how to handle those situations.
Micrographia
A brief definition of micrographia.
Can Genetics Cure PD?
Find out how genes effect Parkinson's disease, and how research might use genetics to find a cure.
ICDs
Find out what behaviors may become compulsive when you are taking medications for Parkinson's disease.
Diet and PD Risk
Maintaining a healthy diet by eating fruits, vegetables, and fish may help reduce your risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Hoehn and Yahr Stages
Learn about the Hoehn and Yahr Stages.
Pope John Paul II
A profile of Pope John Paul II's Parkinson's Disease.
Tips for Managing PD Meds
Learn strategies to manage your medications properly, how to deal with pharmacies, and the wearing-on and wearing-off of medications.
Central Pain in PD
Find out about central pain and Parkinson's disease.
Alt Med for Pain and PD
Find out what alternative medicine therapies can help alleviate the pain associated with Parkinson's disease.
Pros and Cons of DBS
If you are considering deep brain stimulation as a treatment for Parkinson's disease, you should know the risks and benefits
Is PD Caused by a Virus?
Find out whether Parkinson's disease is caused by a virus.
Being a Caregiver
Being a caregiver is stressful. Find out about caregiver stress and what you can do about it.
Essential Tremor
A brief explanation of essential tremor and why it is different from Parkinson's disease.
Tremor
A brief definition of tremor.
Religious Coping with PD
Tips on how to use religion to cope with having Parkinson's disease.
The Question of Supplements
Find out what dietary supplements may be beneficial to people with Parkinson's disease.
The Emotional Challenges of PD
A Parkinson's disease diagnosis is very emotionally challenging. What can you do to cope?
List of Generic Drugs
A list of the generic names of popular Parkinson's disease drugs.
Cognitive Rehabilitation in PD
Cognitive rehabilitation can help you with mood, memory, and thinking problems caused by Parkinson's Disease.
Support for PD Caregivers
Resources for the caregivers of people with Parkinson's disease can be hard to find.
Treatments for Depression in P
Find out the ways that your doctor can help treat depression in Parkinson's disease.
Hallucination
What is a hallucination?
Spiritual Crisis of PD
Being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease can cause a spiritual crisis. It is acceptable to feel angry and confused by your diagnosis.
Free Radicals
Find out what free radicals are and how they affect Parkinson's disease.
Finding Clinical Trials
Find out about clinical trials for Parkinson's disease and where to look for them.
Placebos in Clinical Trials
Find out how placebos are used in clinical trials.
Impulse Control Disorder
A brief definition of impulse control disorders.
Join a Clinical Trial for PD
Clinical trials for Parkinson's disease are beneficial to patients with Parkinson's disease for several reasons.
Substantial Nigra
A brief definition of the substantial nigra.
Clinical Trial Questions
Find out what questions you should ask before you join a clinical trial.
Prepare Your Home for PD
Find out what changes need to be made to your home to make it more accessible to someone with Parkinson's disease.
Ataxia
Loss of balance and coordination.
Dysphagia
A brief definition of dysphagia.
Young Children of PD Patients
Young children of people with Parkinson's disease face a unique set of emotional challenges.
Emotional Challenges of PD
A Parkinson's disease diagnosis is very emotionally challenging. What can you do to cope?
The Challenge of Relationships
Find out how to overcome the challenge of relationships in Parkinson's disease.
Akinesia
"A" means without and "kinesia" means movement so akinesia means without movement.
Apathy
What is apathy, and how does Parkinson's affect feelings of apathy?
Bradyphrenia
What is bradyphrenia?
MSA
A brief definition of Multiple System Atrophy.
PD
A brief definition of Parkinson's Disease.
Living with Hope
Having hope can ease the challenges of living with Parkinson's disease.
Medication Basics
Tips for remembering to take your Parkinson's disease medication.
Traveling With PD
Tips for travel and vacationing with Parkinson's Disease.
The Challange of Acceptance
How can you face the challenge of accepting that you have Parkinson's disease?
Bradykinesia
Slow movement. "Brady" means slower and "kinesia" means movement.
Dopamine
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter or brain chemical that is depleted in Parkinson's Disease. Most drugs that relieve Parkinson symptoms work by increasing doapmine levels in the brain.
Negative Coping for PD
Avoid getting caught up in these negative thoughts when coping with Parkinson's disease.
Resting Tremor
What is Resting Tremor?
Getting Dressed
Tips on how to make getting dressed easier when you have Parkinson's disease.
The Challenge of Anger
It is OK to be angry when you get diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. What can be done to help?
Should I Get a Nutritionist?
Find out if and why you should get a nutritionist to help with your diet when you have Parkinson's disease.
Parkinson's Disease - Articles
An index of articles for the Parkinson's Disease guide site.
Should I Get a Pain Specialist
Find out about pain in Parkinson's disease and whether you should see a pain specialist for your pain.
Coping With PD
Find out different ways that you can cope with the stress of having Parkinson's disease.
PET
A brief definition of positron-emission tomography.
Review of PD: A Complete Guide
A helpful review of "Parkinson's Disease: A Complete Guide for Patients and Families," Second Edition, by William J. Weiner, Lisa M. Shulman, and Anthony E. Lang.
How Clinical Trials Work
Find out how clinical trials work.
About Informed Consent
Find out what you need to know about the informed consent profess for clinical trials of Parkinson's disease treatments.
Cognitive Restructuring for PD
Cognitive restructuring can help you cope with the emotional challenges of living with Parkinson's disease.
Diet Problems in Late Stage PD
Find out what dietary problems may come up in mid to late stages of Parkinson's disease and how to cope with them.
The Challenge of Denial in PD
It is normal to be in denial about your Parkinson's disease, but you do need to go seek help.
Good Sleep Habits
Tips for getting a good night's sleep when you have Parkinson's disease
Sinemet
A brief description of the drug Sinemet
Seeking Suplport for PD
Seeking the support of others is a healthy way to cope with having Parkinson's disease
Review: Life In The Balance
parkinson's disease, parkinsons, pd, book review, books, reviews, literature, Life in the Balance: A physicians memoir of life, love and loss with Parkinson's Disease and Dementia, Thomas Graboys, Peter Zheutlin, 2008.
Parkinson's Disease - QuickTips
An index of QuickTips for the Parkinson's Disease guide site.
Lewy Bodies
A brief definition of Lewy bodies
Deep Brain Stimulation
What is deep braim stimulation (DBS)?
DA
Antiparkinsonian drugs that stimulate the receptors of the brain’s naturally produced dopamine.
Carbidopa
Carbidopa is a drug that prevents the nausea and vomiting sometimes associated with levodopa. 'Sinemet' combines carbidopa with levodopa in one tablet. Usually dose of each drug is given as a ratio with carbidopa on top and levodopa on bottom. So a dose of 25/100 would indicate 25 milligrams of carbidopa and 100 milligrams of levodopa.
Athetosis
Involuntary, repetitive movements, especially with the hands, fingers, and (sometimes) feet. The movements can be writhing and slow.
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