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What Are Symptoms Of Parkinson's Disease?
Question: I am 83 years old. I seem to have several symptoms of Parkinson's decease, including trembling hands and decrease of balance. I also have arrhythmia, scheduled to be treated by ablation this Friday.
Since the heart IS a muscle, is it effected by Parkinson's and will ablation help?
Is there anything else I can do to mitigate the symptons?
XXXX
YYYY@YYYY
Since the heart IS a muscle, is it effected by Parkinson's and will ablation help?
Is there anything else I can do to mitigate the symptons?
XXXX
YYYY@YYYY
Brief Answer:
If Parkinson it won't be affected by heart procedure.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question and i understand your concern.
If the cause of your symptoms of tremors and balance issues is Parkinson's then it won't affect your heart procedure or be helped by it.
However that is a big If, because both tremor and balance issue can have many other causes other then Parkinson's. Parkinson tremor generally starts initially on the one side only in later months/years becoming bilateral. Balance issues are part of Parkinson's symptoms but generally manifest themselves later in the course of the disease. Other features of Parkinson's are slowing of the movement and rigidity with changes in your gait and posture.
If you gave some more info on the way your symptoms started, their progression in time, how they are affected by other factors like anxiety, change of body position, alcohol consumption etc, I might be able to say more.
As for what you can do to mitigate the symptoms, it is difficult to answer without being sure about the diagnosis.
If it is Parkinson's treatment with Levodopa is effective especially in the first years, but as I said since it is a disease the diagnosis of which is based mostly on clinical exam and not on any specific tests (tests are done to exclude other causes), treatment should be prescribed by a neurologist only after the neurological exam.
If on the other hand it turns out not to be Parkinson's, management will depend on the cause.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
If Parkinson it won't be affected by heart procedure.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question and i understand your concern.
If the cause of your symptoms of tremors and balance issues is Parkinson's then it won't affect your heart procedure or be helped by it.
However that is a big If, because both tremor and balance issue can have many other causes other then Parkinson's. Parkinson tremor generally starts initially on the one side only in later months/years becoming bilateral. Balance issues are part of Parkinson's symptoms but generally manifest themselves later in the course of the disease. Other features of Parkinson's are slowing of the movement and rigidity with changes in your gait and posture.
If you gave some more info on the way your symptoms started, their progression in time, how they are affected by other factors like anxiety, change of body position, alcohol consumption etc, I might be able to say more.
As for what you can do to mitigate the symptoms, it is difficult to answer without being sure about the diagnosis.
If it is Parkinson's treatment with Levodopa is effective especially in the first years, but as I said since it is a disease the diagnosis of which is based mostly on clinical exam and not on any specific tests (tests are done to exclude other causes), treatment should be prescribed by a neurologist only after the neurological exam.
If on the other hand it turns out not to be Parkinson's, management will depend on the cause.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your clear answers.
Tremors started on the left hand, progressing to the right.
Dyslexia has also started lately.
Decrease of balance is pronounced.
I still play tennis, but have to be careful to avoid tripping.
Sometimes my jaws are trembling. Left mandible joint occasionally painful.
PT is some help.
Fatigue is treated with Symbicort with minor improvement.
I thought the heart muscle, controlled by electrical signals from the two nodes of the heart could also be affected. The ecg's show signals I would expect the nerve leading to a trembling muscle to create.
I will consult a neurologist. I appreciate any further advice you can offer.
Sincerely
XXXX
Tremors started on the left hand, progressing to the right.
Dyslexia has also started lately.
Decrease of balance is pronounced.
I still play tennis, but have to be careful to avoid tripping.
Sometimes my jaws are trembling. Left mandible joint occasionally painful.
PT is some help.
Fatigue is treated with Symbicort with minor improvement.
I thought the heart muscle, controlled by electrical signals from the two nodes of the heart could also be affected. The ecg's show signals I would expect the nerve leading to a trembling muscle to create.
I will consult a neurologist. I appreciate any further advice you can offer.
Sincerely
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Parkinson is likely.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for coming back with some more info.
Looking at the evolution of tremor it could be of a Parkinsonian type. Jaw tremor is also a feature of Parkinson's. Pain and tripping due to rigidity can be present as well. So compared to before when I wasn't much convinced by your self diagnose I do consider it more likely now.
Treatment is based on levodopa preparations which attempt to substitute the lack of a substance called dopamine in some regions of the brain regulating movement. There are also other medications which don't directly substitute dopamine but enhance its effect.
However they are all prescription drugs and as I said before because physical exam is so important in its diagnosis you should be checked by a neurologist before starting any treatment.
Central nervous system does affect heart rhythm but generally it is only by increasing or slowing its rate, other types of abnormal rhythm are usually intrinsic to the heart and its conduction system. Since you are thought by your doctors to benefit from ablation, it should be due to abnormal pathways/sites in the hearts' walls at the origin of the arrhythmia.
I hope to have been of help.
Parkinson is likely.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for coming back with some more info.
Looking at the evolution of tremor it could be of a Parkinsonian type. Jaw tremor is also a feature of Parkinson's. Pain and tripping due to rigidity can be present as well. So compared to before when I wasn't much convinced by your self diagnose I do consider it more likely now.
Treatment is based on levodopa preparations which attempt to substitute the lack of a substance called dopamine in some regions of the brain regulating movement. There are also other medications which don't directly substitute dopamine but enhance its effect.
However they are all prescription drugs and as I said before because physical exam is so important in its diagnosis you should be checked by a neurologist before starting any treatment.
Central nervous system does affect heart rhythm but generally it is only by increasing or slowing its rate, other types of abnormal rhythm are usually intrinsic to the heart and its conduction system. Since you are thought by your doctors to benefit from ablation, it should be due to abnormal pathways/sites in the hearts' walls at the origin of the arrhythmia.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Your help was significant and I am grateful for it.
Regards
Regards
Brief Answer:
Thank you!
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your appreciative words!
I wish you good health!
Thank you!
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your appreciative words!
I wish you good health!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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