Opinion piece

1.- What are the characteristics of this illness or upheaval?

Parkinson affects commonly to older adults, above 50 years, but can appear at a younger age. Is a progressive disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that affects in the control of your body movement and lead you to start shaking and have difficulty with walking, movement and coordination. Is one of the most common nervous system disorders . According to the Northwest Parkinson’s foundation in 2010 it afflicts over 1 million people. Each person is affected differently and the rate of progression varies greatly between individuals.

2.- Why does it occur?

Parkinson’s occurs when certain nerve cells in a part of the brain called “substantia nigra” die or become impaired normally, these cells produce a vital chemical known as “dopamine”. When approximately 70% of the dopamine producing cells are damaged , the sumptoms of Parkinson disease appear.

3.- What are the most common symptoms?

The first symptom of Parkinson is trembling or shaking, this start on one part of the body usually in hands. Also can affect on your arms , legs , feet or face.

Other symptom is that you start moving slower. This symptoms become worst over the time.

4.- What types of treatment or therapy can a patient use? How long do they take? What are their pros and cons?

Surgery may be a option for some patients. These injuries do not cure Parkinson’s but may help with symptoms. Support groups may help with the changes caused by disease.

Most people respond to medications . How much medications relieve symptoms, and for how long can be very different in each person.

5.- What are the real possibilities of recovery if using this type of medicine?

Parkinson is a progressively degenerative disease that don’t have a cure.

The alternative medicine provide supplements, formulas or other alternatives that help you manage the disease while you progressively degenerate for the rest of your life.

6.- What type of remedies can a patient take?

The optimal combination of treatments depends upon the person’s signs and symptoms , age, stage and activity. There are six main types of medications available to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease:

Levadopa , dopamine agonists , inhibitors of enzymes that inactivate dopamine , anticholinergics , and amantadine. Estrogen may be recommended for postmenopausal women with Parkinson.

7.- What are the costs involved?

The combined direct and indirect costs Parkinson’s, including treatment , social security payments and lost income from inability to work is estimated to be nearly $25 billion per year in the United States. Medications costs for an individual person with Parkinson average $2.500 a year and therapeutic surgery can cost up to $100.000 dollars per patient.

8.- Do health programs in Chile cover this treatment expenses? How about health programs of the USA, UK, New Zealand, Australia or any European country?

In Chile exist a program of the government called Auge-Ges , that cover 69 diseases and Parkinson’s is the number 62 in the list.

This program consist that any person that belong to the public system (fonasa) or private system of health (isapre) and have this disease can use it. But is necessary go to a specific place indicated by the program of health that you have (public or private).

In others countries like New Zealand , all people that born in the country have access free health.

In Australia the treatment of Parkinson’s is similar with Chile but only because the places assigned for the treatment are free. And in this country all diseases are covered by the government