National Parkinson Foundation
The National Parkinson Foundation is a leader in the fight against Parkinson's - helping thousands battle the disease every day. Recognizing the need for a public champion of Parkinson's care, Jeanne C. Levey founded NPF in 1957 for her husband who had Parkinson's.
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Question
How can we stop the drooling from Parkinsons?
• If you tend to drool, you probably don’t have more saliva than you used to have; you are just not swallowing it as automatically as... • If you tend to drool, you probably don’t have more saliva than you used to have; you are just not swallowing it as automatically as before.
• Frequent sips of water or sucking on ice chips during the day can help you swallow more often.
• Always keep your head up, with your chin parallel to the floor, and your lips closed when you are not talking or eating.
• Reduce your sugar intake, as it tends to make more saliva in the mouth.
• You might also consider having Myobloc (Botulinum toxin B) injections into the parotid gland—the biggest saliva-producing gland. The parotid gland is right near your ear and the injections last 3-4 months.
• Anticholinergic medications can be used to help control drooling. However, because of the side effects the preferred method is the Myobloc injection. see more
• Frequent sips of water or sucking on ice chips during the day can help you swallow more often.
• Always keep your head up, with your chin parallel to the floor, and your lips closed when you are not talking or eating.
• Reduce your sugar intake, as it tends to make more saliva in the mouth.
• You might also consider having Myobloc (Botulinum toxin B) injections into the parotid gland—the biggest saliva-producing gland. The parotid gland is right near your ear and the injections last 3-4 months.
• Anticholinergic medications can be used to help control drooling. However, because of the side effects the preferred method is the Myobloc injection. see more
Question
How does a doctor make a Parkinson diagnosis?
One of the most important things to remember about diagnosing PD is that there must be two of the four main symptoms present over a period... One of the most important things to remember about diagnosing PD is that there must be two of the four main symptoms present over a period of time for a neurologist to consider a PD diagnosis.
Four Main Motor Symptoms of PD:
• Shaking or tremor
• Slowness of movement, called bradykinesia
• Stiffness or rigidity of the arms, legs or trunk
• Trouble with balance and possible falls, also called postural instability
How does your doctor make a PD diagnosis?
The bedside examination by a neurologist remains the first and most important diagnostic tool for patients suspected of having PD. When questions arise, some newer imaging modalities such as PET and DAT scans may aid diagnosis, when performed by an expert in neuroimaging. DATscan is FDA-approved for differentiating PD from essential tremor, but it cannot distinguish between PD and parkinsonian subtypes. A neurologist will make the diagnosis based on:
• A detailed medical history and physical examination.
• A detailed history of your current and past medications, to make sure you are not taking medications that can cause symptoms similar to PD.
• A detailed neurological examination during which a neurologist will ask you to perform tasks to assess the agility of arms and legs, muscle tone, your gait and your balance.
• You may notice that a neurologist records your exam into a table, called United Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). UPDRS is a universal scale of PD symptoms and it was created to comprehensively assess and document the exam of the patient with PD and be able to compare it with patient’s future follow up visits, or to communicate about the progression of the PD symptoms in each patient with other neurologists.
• Visit the Movement Disorders Society for their version of the UPDRS .
• The response to medications (that imitate or stimulate the production of Dopamine) causing a significant improvement in symptoms is how the diagnosis of PD is made clinically.
Medical content reviewed by: Nina Browner, MD—Medical Director of the NPF Center of Excellence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in North Carolina and by Fernando Pagan, MD—Medical Director of the NPF Center of Excellence at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. see more
Four Main Motor Symptoms of PD:
• Shaking or tremor
• Slowness of movement, called bradykinesia
• Stiffness or rigidity of the arms, legs or trunk
• Trouble with balance and possible falls, also called postural instability
How does your doctor make a PD diagnosis?
The bedside examination by a neurologist remains the first and most important diagnostic tool for patients suspected of having PD. When questions arise, some newer imaging modalities such as PET and DAT scans may aid diagnosis, when performed by an expert in neuroimaging. DATscan is FDA-approved for differentiating PD from essential tremor, but it cannot distinguish between PD and parkinsonian subtypes. A neurologist will make the diagnosis based on:
• A detailed medical history and physical examination.
• A detailed history of your current and past medications, to make sure you are not taking medications that can cause symptoms similar to PD.
• A detailed neurological examination during which a neurologist will ask you to perform tasks to assess the agility of arms and legs, muscle tone, your gait and your balance.
• You may notice that a neurologist records your exam into a table, called United Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). UPDRS is a universal scale of PD symptoms and it was created to comprehensively assess and document the exam of the patient with PD and be able to compare it with patient’s future follow up visits, or to communicate about the progression of the PD symptoms in each patient with other neurologists.
• Visit the Movement Disorders Society for their version of the UPDRS .
• The response to medications (that imitate or stimulate the production of Dopamine) causing a significant improvement in symptoms is how the diagnosis of PD is made clinically.
Medical content reviewed by: Nina Browner, MD—Medical Director of the NPF Center of Excellence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in North Carolina and by Fernando Pagan, MD—Medical Director of the NPF Center of Excellence at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. see more
What are some tips for dressing someone with Parkinson?
• Do a few stretching exercises before getting dressed to prime and "warm up" muscles.
• Get dressed while sitting. Choose a stable chair with firm back support and sturdy arms.
• Don’t sit on the edge of the bed to dress. It can be easy to lose your balance while sitting on an unstable mattress, and this is a fall risk.
• Use a footstool to make it easier to put on shoes and socks.
• Avoid socks with tight elastic bands. Ill-fitting footwear can cause circulation issues or become a trip hazard.
• Socks with non-skid soles should replace bathroom slippers, which can easily slide off of feet.
• Wear lightweight, supportive shoes with non-slip soles and Velcro closures or elastic shoelaces to make it easy to put on and take off shoes.
Medical content reviewed by: Nina Browner, MD—Medical Director of the NPF Center of Excellence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in North Carolina and by Fernando Pagan, MD—Medical Director of the NPF Center of Excellence at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. see more