Last week we spoke about Parkinson’s Disease, what it is, possible causes, its symptoms, and possible treatment options. This week we would like to focus on possible ways to help slow the progressions of Parkinson’s.
To recap, Parkinson’s is a slowly progressive disorder that affects your movement, muscle control, and your balance. There is no known cure for Parkinson’s but there are medications that can help.
There are a number of extra measures you can undertake to help slow the disease’s progression. Wherever you are in your Parkinson’s diagnosis, here are 4 ways to slow it down.
4 Ways to Help Slow Parkinson’s Disease
Coenzyme Q10
It is believed that coenzyme Q10 can help in slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease. It is an antioxidant that helps clear toxins. This helps your cells get their energy from oxygen.
It is generally used for conditions that affect the heart but it is also used to help prevent migraines, and slow the progression of Parkinson’s. Talk to your doctor about this to see if they recommend it.
Healthy Diet
Keeping up with a balanced diet will improve your general well-being and boost your ability to deal with symptoms of the disease. Eating plenty of whole foods such as:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Lean protein
- Beans & Legumes
- Whole grains
Green Tea
Parkinson’s is caused by a loss of nerve cells in a specific part of the brain. These nerve cells are responsible for producing a chemical called dopamine.
Dopamine is the messenger between the brain and nervous system – this helps control and coordinate your body’s movements. If your cells get damaged or die, the amount of dopamine in the brain is reduced and the messaging system becomes flawed. This leads to slower and irregular body movements.
Drinking green tea will help increase the levels of dopamine in the body and thus help with the messaging system between your brain and nervous system.
Some believe that 1 cup of green tea every 2 hours should help but do speak with your doctor.
Exercise
Exercise can make the greatest impact on the course of your disease. Movement, especially exercise that encourages balance can help slow the progression of Parkinson’s.
20 minutes a day of physical activity around 3 times a week would be great A good option would be walking back and forth in the shallow end of a swimming pool. Doing this would help with coordination and balance.
If you find that you can’t exercise on your own, get in contact with your doctor and they can help find a physical therapist to help.
Should you wish to learn more or are in need of support, please feel free to contact Parkinson’s UK.
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