October 19. 2005
Page B3
Il!í|JortIanb ©bseruer
H ealth
Parkinson’s Disease Hits Young and Old Alike
New therapies
improve
quality of life
M ann , RN
It started out innocently enough. She
noticed her left hand would shake when
she was watching TV. She felt some stiff­
ness and seemed to be tripping over her
own feet. Nothing too serious, but she
thought she would go to the clinic just to
be sure. After all, she w asn’t elderly; at 50
years old, she shouldn't be tottering around
like a granny. What she d idn't expect was
to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
A lot of Americans were introduced to
P ark in so n ’s disease w hen they saw
Muhammad Ali light theOlympicTorch in
Atlanta during the 1996 Olympic Games.
We remember seeing the champ shaking,
walking with adecidedly uneven gate, and
looking rigid as he bravely climbed the
steps to begin the games.
A m ericans got another glim pse at
Parkinson’s disease when actor Michael
J. Fox announced he was a victim, afflicted
in his 30s. Other well-known people, such
as the late Pope John Paul II, former Attor­
by L isa
Dr. Kathryn Chung (right) and a clinic patient at the Oregon Health Sciences
University Parkinson Center.
ney General Janet Reno, Billy Graham, and
Earth Wind and Fire’s Maurice White all
suffer from Parkinson's disease. Yet most
people are unaware of the potentially dis­
abling characteristics and devastating ef­
fects of Parkinson's disease on its victims
and theirfamilies.
Here are some fast facts on Parkinson’s
disease:
Parkinson’s disease is more common
than multiple sclerosis, muscular dystro­
phy and Lou G erhig’s disease combined.
More than 1,5 million Americans are af­
fected by Parkinson's disease with 60,000
new c a se s d ia g n o se d e v e ry y ear.
Parkinson’s disease affects the young as
well as the old.
Parkinson’s disease strikes regardless
of race, ethnicity, social status, or eco­
nomic resources.
The Parkinson Center of Oregon at
OHSU is a world leader in Parkinson re­
search and is lead by perhaps the w orld's
most esteemed doctors and health care
professionals in the field.
What we see is people shake, but there’s
much more to Parkinson’s disease than
that. Parkinson’s disease symptoms may
include a shake or resting tremor, but also
involve muscle rigidity and slowness.
Eventually, balance and coordination be­
come problems. Less recognized symp­
toms can be equally debilitating. These
non-motor symptoms may include depres­
sion, anxiety, pain, urinary problems, sleep­
ing difficulties, low blood pressure,
changes in facial expression and speech,
and potentially, cognitive impairment.
The disease can be difficult to diagnose
and a challenge to treat. It is suspected
that for every one person diagnosed, two
people go undiagnosed. Too often, the
Wellness Village
Promotes
Good Health
shaking, slowness, stiffness, and balance
problems are misinterpreted simply to be
a part o f aging.
There are medications that work well to
control the m ovem ent sym ptom s o f
Parkinson's disease. Non-pharmacologi-
cal therapies— physical therapy, occupa­
tional therapy and speech therapy, par­
ticularly a good stretching and exercise
program— can help too. There isemerging
research that suggests that exercise may
slow or deter Parkinson’s disease.
The Parkinson Center of Oregon at
OHSU collaborates with centers through­
out the nation and world to help all who
suffer from Parkinson’s disease. Through
education, comprehensive care practices,
and research, new therapies are being
developed to improve the quality of life for
people and families with Parkinson’s dis­
ease, and to one day. hopefully, slow,
stop, and cure the disease.
Seeking and receiving appropriate medi­
cal care is the key to making adifference in
the impact Parkinson’s disease has. If you
or someone you know exhibits the symp­
toms described above, urge them to see
their physician and seek a neurological
exam.
Lisa Mann is Patient Care Coordina­
tor at the Parkinson Center o f Oregon at
Oregon Health Sciences University.
Fight Breast Cancer With Exams
While the causes of breast can­
The chance that a woman will be
diagnosed with breast cancer over cer are still unknown, the U.S. Dept.
her lifetime is 1 in 8. However, many of Veterans Affairs officer the fol­
men are diagnosed with breast can­ lowing tips that may help reduce
the risk of developing the disease:
cer, too.
Don’t smoke, exercise regularly,
Mammograms every year for
women aged 40-70, especially for and maintain a healthy weight. Stud­
high-risk women who have had a ies show that excess weight may
first-degree relative diagnosed with increase the risk of breast cancer.
Eat fresh fruits and vegetables
breast cancer, are encouraged in
order to help detect breast cancer at daily. The fiber, antioxidants and
the earliest and most treatable other nutrients found in fresh fruits
stages. Mammograms may detect and vegetables may help reduce
cancer, but they do not prevent the risk of breast cancer and some
other cancers.
cancer.
Sharon Smith (from left), Aisha
Campbell, Muna Sadik and Rose
Pickett attend the 10th annual
Wellness Village sponsored by the
African American Health Coalition.
Local medical care providers
offered free health care services,
screening and advice during the
Saturday event at the Blazer Boys
and Girls Club on Northeast Martin
Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
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