Parkinson’s disease : Not such a serious disease, says expert

Nearly 400,000 people suffering from the degenerative disease in Pakistan.

KARACHI:

Creating awareness and spurring new research and treatment options are the main reasons for celebrating World Parkinson’s Day, explained Pakistan Parkinson’s Society chairman Haroon Bashir.

He said that the most important thing was to remain happy even when faced with such daunting circumstances. “Laugh the disease away,” he advised. Parkinson’s disease is more common in Pakistan than people think since an estimated 400,000 people are suffering from the degenerative disease, said experts, who had gathered at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) for a seminar on World Parkinson’s Day on Tuesday.

Parkinson’s is a chronic debilitating disease, which directly affects muscle reflexes, body movements and can severely impact a patient’s vision. Globally, there are over six million people who are suffering from the disease.

The speakers stressed that there are treatments available that can relieve the symptoms or slow the progress but the commitment to live a better life must come from the patient. AKUH neurology head Dr Saad Shafqat said that the disease can affect anyone but it usually develops in people over the age of 60. He explained that there are no blood tests, MRI, CT scans or other diagnostic tests that can be conducted to determine the incidence of the disease. Nevertheless, an accurate diagnosis can be made based on medical history and on a methodical neurological examination.

The disease has many symptoms with the most common being tremors, stiffness and rigidity in muscles, imbalance, and slowness of movement. As the disease is progressive, the symptoms become severe over time, said Dr Mughis Sheerani, a consultant neurologist. It leads to a number of problems, such as difficulty in speaking, slow pace of walking, and problems in swallowing. However, with the right combination of medication, physical exercise and therapy, people affected by Parkinson’s disease can live a healthy life, he added.

Consultant pulmonologist Dr Murtaza Mohammed Kazmi elaborated on the respiratory complications which appear due to Parkinson’s. These include possible infections in the vocal cord, high probability of developing pneumonia, as well as long periods of fatigue. He urged patients to strictly abide by the prescribed medication and exercise regularly as described by the doctor.

Since people with Parkinson’s disease usually suffer from movement problems, physiotherapy plays a significant role in managing the disease. It helps people continue with their daily routine independently, said physiotherapist Asim Mahmood. Maintaining a good posture, walking in balance and speaking clearer can be achieved by following structured routines.

Parkinson’s patients should also be wary of vision problems. AKUH consultant eye surgeon Dr Mahnaz Naveed Shah said that these patients suffer a higher incidence of certain eye problems, particularly those related to difficulties in focusing and following or tracking objects, double vision, dry eyes, eyelid infections and loss of fine colour perception.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 13^th,  2011.