Parkinson's disease is a condition affecting your nerve cells that control the movement of muscles in the body. Parkinson's can be debilitating because it can severely affect your balance and coordination as well. Symptoms of Parkinson's mat include weight loss -- especially with certain medications or if the disease is in an advanced state.
Parkinson's Disease
If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease or paralysis agitans, you understand that it can be challenging to complete even the simplest of tasks. Parkinson's occurs when neurons in the brain fail to make dopamine. Dopamine plays an important role in how your brain coordinates muscle movement. Withouth dopamine, cells that control movement become damaged and over time, even the simplest of tasks can become impossible. Over one million people in the U.S. have Parkinson's disease, according to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. Men are more likely to develop the disease than women. Parkinson's symptoms typically arise as you approach your 60s although the disease can begin much earlier on in adulthood.
Symptoms
Initially, the symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be subtle. It could start off as a small tremor in your little finger or occasionally losing your balance. Parkinson's symptoms may come on suddenly or slowly over time. Some symptoms include a fixed posture, stiff and slow movement -- also referred to as bradykinesia, rigidity, slurring of speech, tremors, poor coordination and impaired balance. As the disease progresses, it may affect the muscles in your chest, making it challenging to eat and swallow. This could lead to weight loss and possibly choking in some cases.
Weight Loss
In advanced stages, weight loss could be the result of not getting proper nutrition or from disease complications such as pneumonia or broken bones resulting from falling. You may have to switch to a liquid diet in order to get the nutrition you need, but weight loss may still occur. Medications used to treat Parkinson's disease such as anti-anxiety medications, anti-Parkinson's medications, anti-depressants and certain muscle injections can affect your appetite, which may result in weight loss.
Treatment
There is no cure for Parkinson's disease, although there are ways to help you cope with the symptoms. Treatment begins with counseling and finding out what your basic needs are. Other forms of therapy such as speech, occupational and physical therapy may help reduce rigidity and teach you how to cope with the life altering symptoms of the disease. If you are experiencing significant weight loss, your doctor may recommend high-calorie meal replacements in order to help you improve your nutritional health.
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