Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative neurological disorder that affects approximately 1 in every 500 people in Canada. While men are more likely to be diagnosed, women can also be affected, and some may experience symptoms before the age of 50. Each year, around 1,200 individuals in Canada are diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s is a disease it affects men more than women, though it’s not really known why yet by researchers. It could have something to do with genetics, a viral infection or environmental toxins. When someone has Parkinson’s, their brain has lost nerve cells that are in charge of sending messages to our body telling us to move. Once 80% of those cells are lost, symptoms will begin to appear.

The nerves cells that are being lost control movement and produce an important chemical called dopamine and again, when the levels of cells being lost reaches about 80%, that’s when symptoms will begin to appear. And, though it’s most likely to appear between the ages of 60-65, they begin before someone turns 50, or in rare cases, before they turn 30.

Symptoms include:

• Difficulty swallowing or chewing
• Trouble speaking or vocal changes
• Sleeping problems – this could be because of
• uncontrollable movements
• Masking – this means a “blank stare” because the muscles in your face are harder to control
• Poor posture like slouching or stooping
• Loss of smell
• Handwriting changes
• Shorter attention span
• Trouble staying organized/planning
• Poor balance or lack of coordination – this might often lead to falling
• Slow movements
• Stiffness in limbs
• Tremors in hands/fingers, arms, legs/feet, or head

Symptoms usually start appearing on just one side of the body. Because this is a progressive disease, symptoms get worse over time and eventually affect both sides of the body. Though it could affect everyone at a different pace, usually within ten years someone diagnosed with Parkinson’s will have dementia or a physical disability and most likely need a wheelchair or need help with daily tasks like getting dressed, eating, etc.

When someone with Parkinson’s is prescribed medication, it’s usually a medication that increases the levels of dopamine. Dopamine could naturally increase when we experience things we like (certain foods, sex, and getting high). But, CBD oil for example, has the same effect but doesn’t get us high. When the effects kick in, it could help with pain, weakness, and improve your overall mood too.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease but medical marijuana might improve your quality of life. Say goodbye to those pharmaceutical medications that cause more unwanted side effects.