About Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition. It affects about one in 500 people which equivalents to approximately 127,000 people within the UK alone. It is not easy to diagnose Parkinson’s and it is important that the diagnosis is made by a specialist. Although most people who get Parkinson’s tend to be over 50, it is also possible that younger people can get it too.
People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of a chemical called dopamine because some nerve cells in their brain have died.

Without dopamine people can find that their movements become slower so it takes longer to do things.
There are many different symptoms for Parkinson’s and not every person will suffer with every symptom. If you suffer with Parkinson’s disease you may experience some of the symptoms shown below.  The order in which they appear and the way the symptoms progress will vary from person to person.

The main symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease are:

Tremor (shaking) • Slowness of movement • Rigidity (stiffness)

Physical and other symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Bladder and bowel problems • Eye problems • Falls and dizziness • Fatigue • Freezing • Pain • Restless legs syndrome • Skin and sweating problems • Sleep problems • Speech and communication problems • Swallowing problems

How Parkinson’s disease can affect your mental health

This medical condition can cause any of the following:

Anxiety • Dementia • Depression • Hallucinations and delusions • Memory problems

There is currently no known cure for Parkinson’s and the condition is treated in a variety of ways. Drug treatment is still the main treatment to manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s however surgery and therapies may also be used.

For people suffering with Parkinson’s, their GP or a specialist Parkinson’s nurse will aim to find the best treatment for them as an individual.

These are the main types of drugs that are used to treat Parkinson’s:
Levodopa
Dopamine agonists
Apomorphine
Glutamate antagonist
Anticholinergics
COMT inhibitors
MAO-B inhibitors

Parkinson’s UK are a charity offering support, advice, practical help and detailed information. They fund research (over £75 million to date) and campaign to ensure that people with Parkinson’s are treated fairly.

All of the information we have provided relating to Parkinson’s has been sourced from https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/ and this website can provide information for anyone who is affected by this condition. Whether you have Parkinson’s yourself of you are helping to care for a family member or friend who has Parkinson’s Disease.

SMP Healthcare Ltd are an independent health insurance intermediary who can help you find or renew your private medical insurance ensuring that you know what cover is available to you. If you would like to speak to us regarding your health insurance, please call on 01245 929129 or email enquiries@smphealthcare.com and one