World Parkinson’s Disease Day: Scientific treatment promotes “Payo”‘s physical and mental health
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 11
There are some “Pa friends” around us – they may have slow movements, uncoordinated limbs, and may also have symptoms such as trembling hands. April 11th every year is World Parkinson’s Disease Day. What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease? How to identify it early? How can we better treat a condition that currently has no cure? The reporter interviewed relevant experts.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that threatens the health of approximately 3 million people in our country. Wang Han, chief physician of the Department of Neurology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, said that the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include motor symptoms such as tremors, slow movements, and uncoordinated walking postures. It can also affect various systems of the body, leading to blood pressure regulation disorders, gastrointestinal dysfunction, constipation, and non-motor symptoms such as frequent urination and urgency. In the later stages of the disease, cognitive function problems may also occur.
“When talking about Parkinson’s disease, many people’s first reaction is ‘shaky hands,'” said Wang Han. “Not all Parkinson’s disease patients will have tremor symptoms. ‘Hand tremor’ is not necessarily present in all cases and needs to be judged comprehensively in conjunction with other symptoms.”
Early detection of Parkinson’s disease can be achieved by noticing small movements in daily life such as slow asymmetric movements, inflexibility in repetitive movements, and inconsistency in writing size. Seeking medical treatment and having a physical examination in time are crucial for early intervention.
“As a chronic progressive disease, the treatment principle for Parkinson’s disease is the management of the entire disease cycle,” said Chen Shengdi, chief physician of the Department of Neurology at Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Treatment options include drugs, surgery, exercise, psychological counseling, and care. Active exercise rehabilitation is an important part of disease management, as it can effectively improve symptoms and reduce complications.
For patients with Parkinson’s disease, family members play a vital role in creating a supportive environment and providing physical and mental support. Understanding and tolerating patients’ emotions, ensuring correct medication intake, and encouraging participation in rehabilitation training can help care for their physical and mental health.
Although Parkinson’s disease is more common in the elderly, some young adults are also diagnosed with the condition. “Patients with early-onset Parkinson’s disease may experience a sense of shame and require additional care and support from their families and society,” said Wang Han. Psychological professionals can provide counseling when necessary.
World Parkinson’s Disease Day serves as a reminder to raise awareness, promote scientific treatment, and support individuals like “Payo” in improving their physical and mental well-being.