The European Parkinson’s Disease Federation has designated April 11 every year as “World Parkinson’s Disease Day” since 1997. April 11, 2022, is the 26th World Parkinson’s Disease Day, and this year’s theme is “Epidemic Prevention and Anti-Parking, Whole-process Management”. On this special day, let’s learn about Parkinson’s disease together!
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a common neurodegenerative disease in middle-aged and elderly people. Clinical manifestations are divided into motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms.
motor symptomsmainly include resting tremor, Myotonia, bradykinesia, and postural gait abnormalities.
non-motor symptomsmany, mainly including sleep Disorders, loss of smell, constipation disorders, orthostatic hypotension, abnormal sweating, anxiety and depression, cognitive impairment and even dementia. In addition, there are psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations, delirium, delusions, etc. Other atypical symptoms such as pain and fatigue are also associated with Parkinson’s disease.
hand Is shaking a Parkinson’s disease?
Shaking of the hands is medically called tremor. It is like the label of Parkinson’s disease, when it comes to hand shaking, everyone thinks of Parkinson’s disease.
In fact, more than 70% of Parkinson’s patients have the characteristic resting tremor, And it is often the first symptom. Because of this, the tremor left a deep-rooted impression on everyone.
But not all tremors are Parkinson’s disease. For example, physiological hand tremors can be seen everywhere in life, and each of us has experienced it. When we are nervous, we will involuntarily tremble, and even our legs will tremble; when lifting heavy objects, we may have tremors; We feel flustered and trembling. There are more hand tremors caused by diseases, such as hyperthyroidism, severe cervical spondylosis, essential tremor, senile tremor, cerebellar disease, etc., which can cause hand tremors.
So, not all tremors are Parkinson’s disease!
How Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease has three core symptoms: bradykinesia, rigidity, and resting tremor.
bradykinesia: slow or slow movement Decreased range or speed of movement (or gradual hesitation, hesitation, or pauses) during sustained movement. As the disease progresses, eventually almost all patients will have bradykinesia.
tonia: when the patient is at rest Slow passive movement of the extremities and major joints of the neck is seen in 75% to 90% of patients with Parkinson’s disease in the postural position. Myotonia can affect various joints in the body, such as clawed hands, a hunched back, and reduced swinging of the upper limbs when walking. Because of myotonia, patients complain of stiffness and pain.
resting tremor: a condition in which the limb is fully 4-6 Hz (4-6 beats per second) tremors at rest. Limb tremors can be seen when people with Parkinson’s disease relax with their hands resting on their knees. Of course, tremors may also occur when changing postures or performing movements as the disease progresses. Tremors often start on one limb and gradually spread to the opposite side as the disease progresses, even to the lips, jaw, and tongue.
To diagnose Parkinson’s disease, one needs to diagnose Parkinson’s syndrome. Among the three core symptoms, bradykinesia is a necessary symptom, and one of the two symptoms of resting tremor and myotonia is sufficient.
We Are there more and more Parkinson’s patients around?
Parkinson’s disease is a common disease among middle-aged and elderly people. With the arrival of an aging society, the incidence of Parkinson’s disease is increasing.
According to statistics, there are about 5 million Parkinson’s disease patients worldwide, and nearly half of them are in China. More than 1% of the elderly over the age of 60 in my country suffer from Parkinson’s disease, about 1.7% of the elderly population over the age of 65 have Parkinson’s disease, and the prevalence rate is 3%-5% over the age of 70. The “third killer” of middle-aged and elderly people after tumors and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Experts from the World Health Organization predict that by 2030, the number of Parkinson’s disease patients in China will reach 5 million.
Severe Parkinson’s disease affect the patient’s quality of life. Don’t be afraid of “Parkinson’s disease”, World Parkinson’s Disease Day, let us care for Parkinson’s disease patients together, and look forward to the future together!
Written by Yufu Wu
Image design of Xiaopa and Xiaofu: Zhao Haokai
Introduction to the author: Wu Yufu, Chief Physician
Mainly engaged in neuromotor disorders, cerebrovascular diseases More than 20 years of clinical and research work on diseases. Good at Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s syndrome, cerebrovascular disease (cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebral insufficiency, etc.) and various neuromotor disorders, cognitive disorders, anxiety states, depression states, neurasthenia, peripheral Diagnosis and treatment of neuropathy, etc. He has hosted or participated in several scientific research projects, published several first author papers in core journals, and edited or participated in many monographs.