Parkinson's disease is a slowly progressive condition in which the central nervous system gradually loses the ability to control muscular movements. It is characterized by tremor in the hands, fingers and feet, rigid or stiff muscles, poor balance and a shuffling gait. Parkinson's disease results from a gradual loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the substantia nigra, a layer of deeply pigmented gray matter located in the midbrain. Nearly all patients with Parkinson's disease are over 60, but it can also show up in young persons.
Dysphagia
The term "dysphagia" refers to the difficulty someone may experience when trying to swallow solid foods, liquids or saliva. It may be due to a neurological disorder such as Parkinson's disease which affects the nerves leading to the pharyngeal and esophageal muscles. During eating, the pharyngeal muscles help to propel the food down into the esophagus. Dysphagia can be harmful because it frequently makes it challenging to take in enough calories and fluid, so that the body's stores of fat and protein are subsequently lowered.
Seborrhea
Seborrheic dermatitis, commonly called dandruff, is a skin condition, in which the sebaceous glands of the skin overproduce skin cells and sebum, a fatty lubricant. Sebum is the skin's natural oil. This condition usually affects the scalp, sides of the nose, eyebrows, ears, eyelids and middle of the chest. According to a 2010 study conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology, "Seborrheic dermatitis may occur in patients with diseases of the nervous system, such as Parkinson's disease." Other causes of seborrheic dermatitis include heredity, hormonal imbalance and a fungus called malassezia.
Constipation
Constipation is the inability of the bowels to function properly. This condition is marked by difficult evacuation of feces, where the number of bowel movements is less than three per week. A person is said to be constipated when their stool is hard and dry or there is excessive straining. Constipation is not a disease but a symptom. The major function of colon, a portion of the large intestine, is to absorb water, nutrients and salts from food. Constipation occurs when fecal matter remains in the colon for an extended amount of time and the water is absorbed much more dynamically into the intestine. The stool becomes unusually hard and difficult to pass.
References
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Parkinson's Disease
- MedlinePlus: Parkinson's Disease
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: NINDS Parkinson's Disease Information Page
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Dysphagia
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Seborrheic Dermatitis: What It Is and How to Treat It
