Parkinson's Disease

6th of July, 2017


Parkinson's Disease:

Parkinson's Disease is a disease of the Central Nervous System and mostly occurs among the elderly.
As we age, our cells don't regenerate at the rapid rate they use to and cause a decline in mobility and memory.
Some of the symptoms of Parkinson's are tremors of the hands, stiffness, poor balance.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Parkinson's Disease but medications can be taken to alleviate the symptoms. Muscle rigidity is a very common symptom and can limit the range of motion in this case. Automatic movements such as chewing, blinking, and smiling can decline as well. In severe cases, slurred speech also occurs and makes talking very difficult.


There are several causes of Parkinson's:


Natural aging process where cells do not multiply rapidly enough to keep up with demand
Environmental Triggers. Constant exposure to environmental toxins can increase the risks for Parkinson's.
Genetics. Certain genetic mutations increase the likelihood of developing Parkinson's.
Lewy Bodies are clumps of proteins that collect inside nerve cells and increase the chances for Parkinson's as well.

Men are more likely to develop Parkinson's Disease. This is possible because men do not reap the protective benefits of estrogen and they are more likely to hold jobs which leads to head injuries.

To diagnose Parkinson's Disease it is important to see a medical professional. They can conduct brain scans such as PET scans and MRIs. Levodopa is a popular medication that may be used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's.

What are Shingles?

6th of April, 2017

What is Shingles?

Shingles (Herpes Zoster) is a virus that occurs in individuals who had chicken pox as children. The chicken pox is dormant in your body, but once in awhile it travels down the nerves in the body and creates a very painful rash called shingles. This can happen to anyone but the likelihood increases with age. Individuals who take immunpsuppressing drugs or have HIV are also at an increased risk for shingles.

Shingles cannot be passed down from person to person, but it can pass on chicken pox to someone who has never had it before.

Shingles is incredibly painful but it presents other signs and symptoms as well. The most common ones are fever, nausea, red rash on body, itching, chills and aches all over the body. As the virus progresses, the blister-like rashes burst and crust over. 

Shingles can last anywhere between 2-5 weeks and although the recovery is not pleasant, most people get better.

The best way to prevent shingles is by getting a vaccine, especially if you are over 60 years old. Talk to your doctor and discuss getting a shingles vaccine. To treat shingles one must take anti-viral medication such as acyclovir or famciclovir. Pain medicine may also be provided to those who experience severe pain from the shingles virus.

The best way to diagnose and treat shingles is by seeing a trusted healthcare professional!