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Published:
August 16, 2022

Parkinson's Disease For Dummies

Overview

Maintain a take-charge attitude and live your life to the fullest with Parkinson's

Whether the diagnosis is yours or that of a loved one, Parkinson's Disease for Dummies contains everything you need to know about living with this disease. This book is an easy-to-understand, straightforward, and sometimes humorous guide that offers proven techniques for coping with daily issues, finding the right doctors, and providing care as the disease progresses. This user-friendly guide helps you navigate you through the important steps toward taking charge of your condition. You aren't alone—inside, you'll discover proven coping skills and first-hand advice, along with practical tools that will help you navigate the treatment journey. In classic, compassionate Dummies style, Parkinson's Disease For Dummies will answer all your questions, and guide you through the process of finding your own answers as well.

  • Keep your mind sharp, stay in shape, and keep your stress under control
  • Life a full and satisfying life after a Parkinson's diagnosis
  • Get the most current information on Parkinson's medications and treatments
  • Learn the best ways to support loved ones living with Parkinson's

With updates on the latest in alternative treatments, dementia, and young onset PD, Parkinson's Disease for Dummies is here to show you how you can keep a positive attitude and lead an active, productive life.

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About The Author

Michele Tagliati, MD is Vice Chair of Neurology and Director of Movement Disorders at Cedars Sinai Medical Center. He researches Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.

Jo Horne, MA is an experienced author whose credits include Care giving: Helping an Aging Loved One and A Survival Guide for Family Caregivers.

Sample Chapters

parkinson's disease for dummies

CHEAT SHEET

Having Parkinson’s disease (PD) makes for a challenging journey. Use the succinct information in this Cheat Sheet to recognize the important PD terms and acronyms, know where to look for related support, manage medications, and prepare emergency contact information.Managing your medication routineHere are some important tips for managing your medications: Carry a complete list of current prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

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Articles from
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It makes sense for everyone to carry a list of emergency contacts, but if you have Parkinson’s disease, carrying such a list is essential. Print out a list of contact information — home, work, and cell numbers — for the following people and carry it in a prominent place in your wallet or bag. Posting the list in your home isn’t a bad idea, either.
If you have Parkinson’s disease, you most likely manage some symptoms with medication. Managing your Parkinson's medications can be a challenge in itself, but the tips in the following list can help you stay on top of things: Carry a complete list of current prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
Having Parkinson’s disease (PD) certainly doesn’t make you immune to accidents and ailments that can land you in a hospital — it may make a trip to the ER more likely, in fact. To make sure that a surprise trip to the emergency room (is there any other kind?) or a planned stay in the hospital doesn’t leave you worse off than before you went in, use the following tips: Have copies of the following information ready; give them to the Admissions office, the doctors, and ER or floor staff: Your neurologist’s contact information — phone, pager, e-mail, and fax info Your doctor’s written instructions for stopping and starting your PD meds during ER or hospital treatment A list of all prescription and over-ther-counter medications you currently take A list of the red-flag medications that interact badly with PD meds, including antinausea dopamine agonists, gastrointestinal anticholinergics, antipsychotics, and postoperative pain-management drugs — Demerol in particular Examine meds you are given in the hospital.
One sure way to get past the poor-pitiful-me piece of dealing with Parkinson's Disease is to focus less on yourself and ramp up your attention to other people. This simple change can also remind other people to stop viewing you as someone with an incurable condition and start seeing you as the vital, loving, and giving person you've always been.
With Parkinson's Disease and the medications that can make you more prone to falling, a check of your home is imperative to your safety. You may want to schedule one as often as you check the batteries in your smoke detectors — which is at least once a year, right? Your local fire or police department may offer a home safety assessment at no cost.
The following classes of medications may be incompatible with routine medications you take to manage Parkinson’s disease. Provide the following list to all medical professionals before they prescribe any new medicine (prescription or over-the-counter), and review any new medications with your neurologist before you begin taking them: Antinausea dopamine agonists Gastrointestinal anticholinergics Antipsychotics Postoperative pain-management drugs (Demerol in particular) Contact the National Parkinson Foundation (or call toll-free 1-800-327-4545) for a wallet-sized card that lists drugs that may be contraindicated.
The same symptoms that indicate Parkinson's Disease (PD) can also indicate other conditions, thus parkinsonism is a generic term referring to slowness and mobility problems that look like PD. Parkinsonism is a feature in several conditions that have different (and perhaps known) causes, but those conditions don't progress like PD.
Having Parkinson’s disease (PD) makes for a challenging journey. Use the succinct information in this Cheat Sheet to recognize the important PD terms and acronyms, know where to look for related support, manage medications, and prepare emergency contact information.Managing your medication routineHere are some important tips for managing your medications: Carry a complete list of current prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
Every condition, profession, sport, and what-have-you has its own vocabulary and its own acronyms. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is no different. The following list contains terms and abbreviations that are part of the Parkinson’s world: akinesia: Inability to move spontaneously ataxia: Impaired balance and coordination bradykinesia: Slowed movement carbidopa/levodopa: Medication to relieve PD symptoms dopamine: Acts as one of the brain's messengers to signal movement and maintain balance and coordination dyskinesia: Abnormal involuntary movements PD: Parkinson’s disease PWP: Person (or people) with Parkinson’s disease T.
Although the actual causes and risk factors for getting Parkinson's Disease (PD) are still mysterious, the primary signs that signal the presence of PD are very clear. You may have noticed one or more of these signs but then dismissed it as something slight, easily explained, or due to an entirely different condition.
If you’re dealing with Parkinson’s disease, don’t ignore the benefits of the Internet. The Web sites in the following list can provide you and your care providers with information, support, and a variety of resources. Add these Parkinson's Web sites to your bookmark list: American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc.
ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressively debilitating disease that causes muscle spasms; weakness from wasting away of muscles; and ultimately, strained speaking, swallowing, and breathing. The disease goes by a few other names, including motor neurone disease (MND), Charcot disease, and Lou Gehrig's disease, the latter of which refers to the legendary first baseman who died two years after his ALS diagnosis.
If you have Parkinson’s disease (PD), you know that few things are quick and easy — except the following list that helps you remind yourself that living well with PD is possible. Read this list once a day — twice if it’s a rough day: Challenge — Acknowledge and face the facts. Humor — Find and revel in the absurd.
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