Health Library
The Health Library is a collection of health and wellness resources created for learning and accessibility. Select a topic below for related health information or search for a topic in the search bar for more information on other medical conditions.
Parkinson's Disease
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Thalamotomy is the precise destruction of a tiny area of the brain called the thalamus that controls some involuntary movements. Before surgery, detailed brain scans using a CT scan or MRI are done to identify the precise location for treatment. The person is awake during the surgery, but the scalp area where...
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Problems with sexual function in people with Parkinson's disease are common. Muscle stiffness and movement may make sexual activity difficult. Depression or anxiety may result in a loss of interest in sex or, in men, erection problems. These often...
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In Parkinson's disease, freezing (sometimes called motor block) is a sudden, brief inability to start movement or to continue rhythmic, repeated movements, such as finger-tapping, writing, or walking. Freezing most often affects walking, but it also...
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Most people know that Parkinson's disease is a condition that affects how you move. But the breakdown of nerve cells in Parkinson's disease can cause other symptoms. These other symptoms, also called "non-motor" symptoms, include: Constipation. This is a common problem, mostly related to the breakdown of...
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When you have Parkinson's disease, you may find that making simple changes to your home and in your daily activities can help you stay independent for a longer time. Simplifying your daily activities may help you to save your energy for activities...
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The tremor of Parkinson's disease is not always severe, but it may affect many of your daily activities. To help control tremor in your hand or arm when you are trying to use the hand, press the affected elbow against your body to stabilize your...
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Most people with Parkinson's disease can eat the same healthy, balanced diet recommended for anyone. This includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains, cereals, legumes, poultry, fish, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products. Early in the disease,...
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Exercise is an important part of home treatment for people with Parkinson's disease. It has benefits in both early and advanced stages of the disease. Regular exercise can help you: Keep and improve muscle strength and endurance. Control your weight...
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Parkinson's disease can affect the muscles of the lips, tongue, throat, voice box (larynx), and lungs, all of which are involved in producing speech. Stiff, slow muscles in these areas may lead to: Low voice volume or soft speech. Imprecise speech...
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Parkinson's disease can change many of the muscles used for speech, chewing, and swallowing. Changes in these muscles may cause: Weight loss and nutrition problems. Slow eating. Fatigue during eating. Food "sticking" in the throat. Coughing or...
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Deep brain stimulation (DBS) uses electrical impulses to stimulate a target area in the brain. The stimulation affects movement by altering the activity in that area of the brain. The procedure does not destroy any brain tissue. And stimulation can be changed or stopped at any time. Surgery is required to implant the...
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In Parkinson's disease, a part of the brain called the globus pallidus is overactive. This causes a decrease in the activity of a different part of the brain that controls movement. In a pallidotomy, the surgeon destroys a tiny part of the globus pallidus by creating a scar. This reduces the brain activity in that...
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What is Parkinson's disease? Parkinson's disease affects the way you move. It happens when there is a problem with certain nerve cells in the brain. Normally, these nerve cells make an important chemical called dopamine. Dopamine sends signals to the part of your brain that controls movement. It lets your muscles move...
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Movement problems (motor fluctuations) are the most common complication of long-term levodopa use. The majority of people who take levodopa develop these problems within 5 to 10 years. The main types of levodopa-related motor fluctuations include: The wearing-off effect. Wearing-off periods occur when the...