ghazali

3 years

My mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease

My mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, she is currently under treament by a doctor. During the day, she is having a hard time to stay awake. Is it because of the medications that she is taking, doctor? I am really concerned with her condition.

Hello and thanks for your kind question on behalf of your mother. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive central nervous system problem that affects body movement. Symptoms can start gradually, or starting with a barely noticeable tremor or shakiness in just 1 hand. Tremors are common, but the Parkinson’s disorder also commonly causes muscle stiffness or slowing of movement.

In the early forms of Parkinson’s disease, your face may show little or no expression. Your arms may not moving or swinging when you walk. Your speech may become slurred or become slow. Parkinson’s disease symptoms can become worse as your disease progresses over time.

Parkinson’s disease is often treated with a medications called as dopamine. This is the substance that is need to be replaced in Parkinson’s patient because the level of dopamine is reduced in Parkinson’s disease. Other than the day time sleep problems, Parkinson’s disease can cause other sleep problems such as:

  • nightmares
  • depression
  • rapid eye movement
    night time rigidity
  • restless leg syndrome (RLS)

Parkinson’s disease and the medication used to treat symptoms such as dopamine can cause significant drowsiness or sleepiness during the day time. In some instances, daytime sleepiness can occur so suddenly and abruptly, it can even presents like a condition called narcolepsy.

Narcolepsy is a sleep problem that causes sudden, uncontrollable series of sleep. If patient with these particular symptoms end up taking long sleeps, it can be difficult for them to get a full sleep during the night.

It is advisable for your mother to go to meet any doctors that can help to deal with the situation. They can advice any changes that has to made on the medications or even changing the medication.

Please click on this link (DoctorOnCall) to talk to us privately online and discuss further about your symptoms and treatment needed. Thank you.

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