Parkinson's Disease:  This slowly progressive, degenerative neurologic disorder. This disorder is one of the most common crippling disorder in the US.  Deterioration progresses for an average of 10 years, at which time secondary disorders occurs such as pneumonia, aspiration or some other infection which can lead to death.  Parkinson's disease affects men more often than women.

Cause:  Uncertain.  Dopamine deficiency prevents affected brain cells from performing their normal inhibitory function within the central nervous system

Symptoms:

Insidious tremor that begins in the fingers (unilateral pill roll tremor), increases during stress or anxiety and decreases with purposeful movement and sleep

Muscle rigidity causing resistance to passive muscle stretching, which may be uniform or jerky

Difficulty walking (gait lacks normal parallel motion and may be retropulsive or propulsive)

High-pitched monotone voice

Drooling

Masklike facial expression with poor blink reflex and wide-open eyes

Walks with body bent forward (loss of positive control)

Slurred speech

Oculogyric crises (eyes are fixed upward, with involuntary tonic movements)

Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)

Treatment:

No cure at present

Treatment seeks to relieve symptoms and keep the patient functional as long as possible.

Drug therapy
Physical therapy
Stereotactic neurosurgery

Latest Article: Pyelonephritis

Acute pyelonephritis or kidney infection:   One of the most common renal diseases.  Pyelonephritis most commonly results from an ascending infection.  The most common infecting organism is Escherichia coli.  Others are Proteus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus faecalis.  It primarily affects the interstitial area and the renal pelvis and,...

Related Articles:

• Psoriasis
  Psoriasis:   This chronic disorder is marked by epidermal proliferation and recurring remissions and exacerbation's.  It's lesions, which appear as red ( erythematous papules ),...
• Prostatic Cancer
  Prostatic Cancer:   Is the second most common cancer in men over age 50.  Incidence is highest among blacks and in men with blood type A, and lowest in Asians.  It is...
• Prostate Problems
  Prostatitis:   Inflammation of the prostate gland.  This disorder may be acute or chronic.  Acute prostatitis most often results from gram-negative bacteria and is easy...
• Polycystic Kidney Disease
  Polycystic Kidney Disease:   Characterized by multiple, bilateral, grape-like clusters of fluid filled cysts that grossly enlarge the kidneys, compressing and eventually replacing...
• Pneumonia
  Pneumonia:  is an inflammation of the alveoli and may be caused by a diplococcus known as the pneumococcus, although pneumonia can also be caused by a streptococcus, a staphylococcus...
• Pleurisy
  Pleurisy:   An inflammation of the visceral and parietal pleurae that line the inside of the thoracic cage and envelop the lungs, pleurisy usually begins suddenly. Cause: ...
• Pharyngitis
  Pharyngitis:   Inflammation of the pharynx, referred to also as sore throat. Pharyngitis can be acute or chronic inflammation.  Commonly among adults who live or work in dusty...
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus
  Patent: open, unobstructed Ductus : fetal blood vessel which joins the aorta and pulmonary artery Arteriosus:   pertaining to artery Patent Ductus Arteriosus:   (...
• Parkinson's Disease
  Parkinson's Disease:   This slowly progressive, degenerative neurologic disorder. This disorder is one of the most common crippling disorder in the US.  Deterioration progresses...
• Pancreatitis
  Pancreatitis:   Inflamation fo the pancreas.  May results from edema, necrosis, or hemorrhage.  In this disorder, the enzymes normally excreted by the pancreas attack and...