The treatment of the Parkinson’s disease is a complex one, mostly because this disease has various implications and a permanent evolution. The symptoms of the Parkinson’s disease appear due to dopamine deficit at the cerebral level. This is the main reason why most medicaments which are used in the treatment of the Parkinson’s disease have the purpose of substituting the dopamine deficit and to copy this substance’s action.

The Long Term Treatment for the Parkinson’s disease

There are more types of Parkinson’s disease treatments and they are personalized for every patient, as each case is different. The available treatment methods are: medication, surgery and alternative methods, such as physical therapy and speech therapy (in case of speech disorders).

An essential component of the Parkinson’s disease treatment is levodopa. This substance determines improvements in most cases, even if some specialists claim that this medicament has some undesirable side effects. Still, in order to get the best results, specialists recommend the patients to start the treatment right after the appearance of the disease, as this is a safe way to a successful result. This is the main reason why people should alert and take measures in case they notice the first signs of Parkinson’s disease (it is a known fact that this disease has a very long initial phase and a long evolution). Initially, levopoda helps the patients to be in total control and avoids the occurrence of the symptoms. Further on, some patients present some fluctuations regarding the way the medicine is controlling the symptoms (especially motor fluctuations, involuntary grimaces or muscular contractions). Besides, these symptoms appear or get worse right before the drug administration. This is the fact which leads to the theory of the active and passive intervals of the Parkinson’s disease. The active intervals are the ones which do not present any symptoms and when the levopoda is administrated and the passive intervals are the ones when the treatment is insufficient and so, various symptoms appear. When the control of the symptoms gets very difficult, then the specialists recommend certain drugs which stop the fluctuations and reestablish the normal levels of levodopa.

Besides levopoda, there are some other medications which can successfully help in stopping the evolution of this disease. Among these, the most popular ones are amantadine (also used in combination with levopoda), anticholinergic medications (the oldest treatment method for the Parkinson’s disease), and selegiline (an inhibitor drug, used to stop the effect of an enzyme). There are some other methods which doctors sustain that can help in the treatment of this disease, although they are not yet available. Some of these experimental therapies include the restorative treatments, which imply the transplantation of fetal cells. Furthermore, the gene therapy has proved to be efficient in the healing process.

A major factor in the treatment of the Parkinson’s disease is a healthy and adequate lifestyle. This lifestyle should imply the following aspects:

• A balanced diet based on natural aliments, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, wheat (mainly proteins and vitamins).
• The increased consumption of water. Furthermore, drinks such as alcohol, sodas and coffee have to be avoided.
• Extra supplements of vitamins and minerals.
• A balanced exercising program – this has the purpose of toning the muscles. The preferred types of training are the ones which take place in nature (walking, jogging, swimming).

A healthy lifestyle is the main element is case of any chronic medical condition, especially in the case of those who present permanent and unstoppable evolutions. Together with the correct medication and precaution methods, support from the family and confidence, the Parkinson’s disease can be overcome and the patient can live a normal and happy life.