Parkinson's disease is a progressive chronic disease that causes significant disability for about 1.5 million people in the United States. Symptoms appear gradually over a prolonged period of time and physical abilities slowly degenerate. Onset of the disease is usually after 50 years of age. There is no clear cause of the disease. The effects of Parkinson's disease are psychological as well as physical.
Bradykinesia
Bradykinesia is a slowing down of movement. Donna D. Ignatavicius, MS RN, and M. Linda Workman, Ph.D, authors of "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care", explain how bradykinesia affects the body. A person with Parkinson's disease may suddenly not be able to swing his arm normally while walking. He will experience a decrease in his ability to blink his eyes. Swallowing will become difficult and he will have trouble initiating movement. For example, if he wants to get up out of a chair, it will take him several moments and possibly several attempts to raise himself to a standing position. Conscious thought and effort will be needed to initiate walking. As the disease progresses, this effect of Parkinson's Disease becomes more prominent.
Rigidity
Rigidity of muscles presents early in the disease process and gets worse over time. Muscle movements are affected in three different ways. Muscle movement may have a rhythmic interruption characterized by starts and stops of purposeful activity. For example, while reaching for a glass of water, the arm may jerk back and forth throughout the entire movement; this is called cogwheel rigidity.
Plastic rigidity is stiffness of the muscles with some resistance to movement. A person with plastic rigidity may have some stiffness and slowness when she is moving her muscles.
Lead pipe rigidity is total resistance to movement. Patients will be unable to move normally and will need help with activities of daily living. Rigidity also affects facial muscles resulting in the mask-like staring expression of Parkinson's disease patients. This can cause problems with chewing and swallowing.
Tremor
Tremor is an effect of Parkinson's disease that is found early in the disease process. Tremors begin in the hands and progress up the arms. Tremors are more noticeable at rest. Tremors can affect the diaphragm, tongue, lips and jaws interfering with breathing, eating and drinking.
Extreme Anxiety
Mariann Di Minno, RN, MA, and Michael J. Aminoff, MD, DSc, of the Parkinson's Disease Clinic and Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco, discuss how the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease causes extreme anxiety for patients. A person facing this diagnosis may suffer from constant intrusive thoughts filled with fear of the future. Body self-absorption increases anxiety as he worries about every potential sign or symptom of the disease. The constant stress lowers tolerance to frustrations and other life stressors.
Depression
Another psychological effect of Parkinson's disease is depression. Patients need a good support network and assistance with learning how to cope with the effects of the disease.
References
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care"; Donna D. Ignatavicius MS RN, & M. Linda Workman Ph.D; 2006
- "The National Parkinson Foundation"; Living With Parkinson Disease; Mariann Di Minno, RN, MA, and Michael J. Aminoff, MD, DSc; 2007
