Living with Parkinson's Disease: 4 Tips to Manage Your Symptoms
The nature of Parkinson’s disease can make life with the condition difficult, so you may be looking for ways outside of medication to keep your symptoms under control.
As an expert in movement disorders. Christopher Duma, MD, FACS, provides several advanced treatment options for Parkinson’s disease, including deep brain stimulators. Dr. Duma also offers resources that make your symptoms easier to manage on a daily basis.
What you should know about Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that causes stiffness and uncontrollable movements like shaking. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease typically start gradually, but over time, they can worsen and lead to a disability.
In addition to physical symptoms, Parkinson’s disease can lead to behavioral changes, loss of memory, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
Dr. Duma offers minimally invasive procedures to treat Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. To lessen the severity of your symptoms and the impact they have on your life, you can incorporate things into your usual routine, even after you undergo a medical procedure.
Tips for keeping Parkinson’s disease symptoms well-controlled
Though Dr. Duma can give you specific tips for better managing your Parkinson’s disease symptoms, here are four things you can try to support your health and ease any symptoms you experience:
1.Massage therapy
Routine massages have many benefits besides relaxation. A massage can improve blood circulation throughout your whole body and release any tension you have in your muscles. Many people notice a reduction in their tremors following a 60-minute massage.
Massages are also a good strategy for managing stress, which can worsen your Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
2. Yoga
A regular yoga practice can improve your balance and the flexibility of your muscles and joints. You can also build the strength of your overall body with yoga poses.
If you’re limited because of your Parkinson’s disease symptoms, you can ask your yoga instructor for ways to modify yoga positions or find a yoga class that specializes in helping people with movement disorders and other health issues.
3. Dietary improvements
What you eat influences your Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Duma can recommend ways you can improve your diet based on your existing health to reduce the severity of your symptoms.
You should drink six to eight glasses of water a day and include fiber-rich foods into your diet to lower your risk factors for constipation and other digestive issues. You may also benefit from nutritional supplements that ensure you’re getting the vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy.
4. Keep it simple
Trying to do too many things can lead to stress, anxiety, and fatigue, which can all worsen your Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Look for ways you can simplify your usual routine.
Stay focused on doing what you can independently. Be open to accepting help with activities like bathing or driving that can be frustrating or impossible with moderate-to-severe tremors and stiffness.
In addition to these tips, be sure to follow Dr. Duma’s guidance for your treatment, including taking medications when needed, to stay on top of your Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
Call the office of Christopher Duma, MD, FACS, to schedule a Parkinson’s disease consultation, or book an appointment online today.