Background

Previous research has shown that symptoms of Parkinson disease (PD) include more than just motor symptoms–they also include nonmotor symptoms. Quite a bit of research has identified problems with digestion, urination, anxiety, depression, and sexual function–all related to PD. Sometimes these nonmotor symptoms appear before the classic symptoms of PD.

Scientists and doctors are continuing their search for other nonmotor symptoms that are linked with PD. Recent research has identified two previously unreported nonmotor symptoms of PD.

What did the first research show?

The first was a report about two patients with PD who had a symptom called phantosmia. Phantosmia is a unique condition in which the person smells something that is not truly present in his or her environment. Medical specialists also call this an olfactory hallucination.

The olfactory bulb and tracts
are shown in red in this
1543 sketch by Vesalius.

Although previous research has shown that some people with PD lose their sense of smell (called anosmia) or have a distorted sense of smell (called parosmia), no previous reports have been published about people with PD having phantosmia. Phantosmia has, however, been reported to occur in people with a certain type of seizures, a brain injury, Alzheimer disease, or, rarely, migraine.

Both of the people in this report described the smells as a type of perfume. They said that the scent was not related to one specific situation or place and was linked with positive experiences. People who have phantosmia associated with other disorders, such as seizures or a brain injury, often experience unpleasant smells that are related to negative experiences. The phantosmia episodes in the two patients in this report lasted for anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour.

Both people developed phantosmia before any other symptom of PD was present, and both soon developed classic symptoms of PD. Although disordered sense of smell is quite common in PD and in other disorders, how often phantosmia occurs is not known. No one is sure how often people with phantosmia are later diagnosed with PD because many people, including doctors and researchers, don’t know about phantosmia as a nonmotor symptom of PD.

Landis BN, Burkhard PR. Phantosmias and Parkinson disease. Arch Neurol 2008;65(9)1237-1239.

What did the second research find?

These researchers compared pain levels in people with PD with pain levels in a group of people who were the same age and did not have PD (called the control group). They found that people with PD had more pain than those in the control group.

The increased level of pain in the group with PD was related to the fact that the people with PD had pain caused by dystonia, and the people in the control group did not have dystonia. Pain that was not caused by dystonia was similar between people in the two groups. Even when they first began having symptoms of PD, the PD group had more pain than the control group.

The researchers found that, in addition to having more pain, the people with PD experienced pain differently than did people without PD. People with PD had pain in different parts of their body, such as in their back, shoulders, or legs. People with PD also had different types of pain, including cramping.

Defazio G, Alfredo Berardelli A, Fabbrini G. Pain as a nonmotor symptom of Parkinson disease: evidence from a case-control study. Arch Neurol 2008;65(9):1191-1194.

What does this research mean for people with PD?

This recent research shows that there are many different types of nonmotor symptoms in PD. Sometimes these types of symptoms can appear before the motor symptoms that are typically associated with PD appear. Pain and phantosmia are just two of numerous symptoms associated with PD. Doctors, researchers, and people with PD continue to work on understanding all of the effects of this disease. As more research is done in this area, the hope is that doctors will be more aware of these nonmotor symptoms and better able to recognize and treat PD.

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The process which converts the food you eat into the energy your body uses is far from simple. After every meal, the carbohydrate content of the food is broken down into a simpler form of sugar, which is also known as glucose, which is then carried to the different parts of your body via the bloodstream. Your cells then get to work, transforming this glucose into energy which they use to function. However, if your body is bereft of the insulin it requires in metabolizing this glucose, or if your cells do not respond to the insulin which the pancreas secretes, a disease known as Diabetes sets in which is one of the most widespread of its kind in today’s world.

If allowed to develop unchecked, Diabetes can lead to several severe complications, many of which are permanent and others even fatal. However, take care to ensure that your disease does not go out of hand is not as daunting as it may seem. With regular and timely meals, medication which your doctor prescribes, and constant monitoring of your blood glucose levels, you could be well on your way to leading a long, active and satisfying life. And in addition to these precautions, exercise is a vital part of keeping your blood sugar levels moderated.

One of the most devious advocates of diabetes is obesity, which also contributes significantly in further complicating the disease. You can steer away from falling into the obesity trap by supplementing your dietary regime with regular and moderate exercise. Aerobic exercises are undoubtedly a key factor in keeping your weight down to the target you and your physician determine. You can choose from an array of alternatives when it comes to aerobic exercise. You opt for low-impact aerobic classes, incorporate a walking routine into your daily schedule or even indulge in some form of sport which requires you to keep moving. Make sure you get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, five days a week, which you can also divide into 10 minute sessions through the day.

Diabetes also affects the nerves of your feet, which may make it painful for you to indulge in activities which are hard on your feet. If your doctor advises you to keep away from these forms of exercise, then you can try bicycling, either outdoors or indoors, swimming, water aerobics and even rowing which are all great calorie-burners, but go easy on your feet. You can dabble in as varied an exercise regime as you want to, which will also keep you more motivated towards maintaining your fitness program. Strength training is another important aspect of exercise as it helps you build bone and muscle mass, allowing you to burn those calories away, even when your body’s at rest. You can either register for a strength training class to get started or invest in your own set of weights, elastic bands or plastic tubes and set up a workout regime of your own.

Before you work out a fitness regime for yourself, make sure to speak to your physician about your recommended levels of activity as well as the kind of exercise which will benefit your condition. Also, don’t plunge headlong into your regime, which will be more detrimental than advantageous, but work your way up as your body adjusts itself to your workouts. Try to keep your schedule as flexible as you can, so that even if you miss a session, you can compensate for it during the course of the day. Keep a close watch over your blood glucose levels, both before and after you exercise, to see how your blood sugar is responding to your workouts. In case of any uneasiness like hunger, dizziness and weakness during your workout session, stop at once. These are the initial symptoms of low blood sugar of Hypoglycemia which you need to treat with glucose pills, or half a cup of fruit juice until your blood sugar is above the minimum 70.

Many victims of Type One Diabetes are also particularly susceptible to Ketoacidosis, where toxic substances called ketones build up in your blood stream. If you happen to be diagnosed with this condition, then it is advisable to refrain from any kind of physical activity, as doing so will only exacerbate this condition. Munching on a light snack before you begin to exercise also helps you keep Hypoglycemia at bay.

The benefits of regular exercise are not just limited to watching over your blood sugar levels in fact, exercise is also the most recommended stress-handling therapy. Making your day-to-day life as active as you can also helps you avert the more severe ailments which afflict you as your body ages. The first step to a healthier and more fulfilling life begins with that all-important call to your physician. Start today and watch your life transform before your very eyes!

About the Author:

Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit http://www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

Life Insurance - Do Not Neglect It!
by Andrew Chan

Life insurance is one very important component that you should not neglect. Many people do not plan for this expense, but it should be looked on as a necessity. Ignoring it could mean financial catastrophes in some cases.

This investment is a necessary one, regardless of how your situation looks. Looking into this will give you peace of mind to go about your daily tasks. Here are some information to to help you.

A “term life” plan is one of the most popular, since it is usually the most inexpensive way to obtain life coverage. It does not build cash value and no refund is given if the policy is canceled. It can be renewed annually or for a more common term of 5, 10, 15, 20, or 30 years. If the insured passes away, the benefit is paid to the beneficiaries.

A whole life policy is quite a popular option as well. It lasts until for the lifetime of the insured or chooses to cash out. There are various options available for this form of insurance and can be quite confusing to the lay person. People who want more flexibility with their policy will find this useful. There are several categories of whole life insurance. In this respect, it may be useful to consult a financial planner.

If you are single or do not have any dependents, your life insurance needs may not be very demanding. It is still a good idea to have a small policy to help cover your final expenses such as funeral and burial costs.

A person who has a family to support will need substantially more coverage than a single person. Take into account what the money will be needed for. Look at any debts that you will want to be paid off in the event of your death. If children are involved, college or school costs should be considered. Think about any immediate needs and how long you want the money to last.

If you are the primary caregiver of small children, you will need to have life insurance even if you are not generating income. You should think about what it would cost to hire someone to look after the children if you were no longer there. There should also be enough money available for that person’s final expenses. Not having enough cover for non-income producing family members is a common mistake that families make.

Purchasing a life policy for a child has mixed reviews. Some people feel that it is a good idea to cover funeral expenses in the event that the unthinkable happens. These policies are relatively inexpensive and some parents like the reassurance that it provides. The likelihood that a child will die is relatively low, though. So another school of thought is to put that money toward a college or savings fund. This decision is entirely up to the parents.

Life insurance can be a depressing subject to discuss for many people. But like it or not, it is still a practical and necessary detail that has be taken care of. Once you take care of this detail, you gain a peace of mind knowing that you have done the best you could for yourself and family in the event of any unforeseen tragedy.

About the Author:

Here are some more information and tools whilst you are on the topic of life insurance. Visit our site at http://simple-financial-planning.com for more. Click here to get your own unique version of this article.