Barbados’ Chief Medical Officer says more people are being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease at an earlier age.
Dr Joy St John made the disclosure this morning at the Limegrove Cinemas during a seminar on the illness held by the Barbados Parkinson Trust.
“Most of us have been led to believe that the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease are associated with aging and that the disease usually affects persons over the age of 50. However, there have been more cases of early onset of the disease and emerging data has shown that during the past several years it has been estimated and five to ten per cent of persons suffering from the disease are under the age of 40 years,” she told the gathering.
The Oxford Dictionary defines Parkinson’s as a progressive disease of the nervous system marked by tremor, muscular rigidity, and slow, imprecise movement, chiefly affecting middle-aged and elderly people. It is associated with degeneration of the basal ganglia of the brain and a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
Over one thousand Barbadians have been diagnosed with the condition.
“It is these types of forum which provide the opportunity for persons to deliberate as well as to set the roles as they work closely together in other to seek new strategies to enhance the lives of persons suffering from Parkinson’s disease,” Dr St John said.
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There appears to be a problem with "sharing information" when you are a "so-called" professional. People need to research things for themselves to be more armed about their ailment. The internet is a good source of information, so arm yourself with knowledge so you are just as informed. Everyone is responsible for themselves !!
@Jea Alleyne - Well said, it is called the power syndrome MANY of the people suffer from it ALONG with WHITE COAT SYNDROME. If I know something you do not know then I have power in my hand by holding onto the said information. Mind you feeding you with PILL after PILL after PILL. They will never do any research to look at the chief causes of anything only FOLLOW which is VERY addictive to this people. Then we got the client/patient AFRAID of the WHITE COAT to ask the doctor to further explain or in many cases to explain at all and then they will ask the nurse.
There appears to be a problem with "sharing information" when you are a "so-called" professional. People need to research things for themselves to be more armed about their ailment. The internet is a good source of information, so arm yourself with knowledge so you are just as informed. Everyone is responsible for themselves !!
@Jea Alleyne - Well said, it is called the power syndrome MANY of the people suffer from it ALONG with WHITE COAT SYNDROME. If I know something you do not know then I have power in my hand by holding onto the said information. Mind you feeding you with PILL after PILL after PILL. They will never do any research to look at the chief causes of anything only FOLLOW which is VERY addictive to this people. Then we got the client/patient AFRAID of the WHITE COAT to ask the doctor to further explain or in many cases to explain at all and then they will ask the nurse.
After reading this article being the person I am I looked up basal ganglia of the brain for a more specific medical definition. Why? The article as it is does not help me to understand Parkinson's disease any better. I found that there are several other ailments relating to the degeneration of this subcortical nuclei. I wish that when doctors speak they would break things down in such a way that the average man would understand. With any disease being armed with the knowledge of your condition will help you to understand and even allay your fears. The doctor is there to work with you to manage your condition; not behave as demi-gods which I believe is still a big problem in Barbados today. The days of the doctor saying this is what I want you to do because I am the doctor and you are the patient no longer pertains. This generation has the good and bad information at their finger tips because of the internet. Doctors need to remember that and work hand in hand not only with others of their ilk but with their patients. This would help to curb these diseases which are on the rise due to lifestyle changes and a host of other ills such as how we treat our environment. Life is a delicate balance and our body/temple a fascinating puzzle which must be cared for. Yet things can go wrong; which makes it incumbent for the docs to share with us what they know so we can do better.
@Sheron Inniss - Well spotted. Nothing much in this article. To live in the eagle world you must be able to spot the problem a mile away and ATTACK. The GENERAL CONSENSUS of MOST Doctors is that this is an ingrunt, poorly educated people with limited ability to understand if they try to explain. Mind you SOME of these doctors work hypocrisy and go AGAIN$T THE GRAIN.
WITHHOLDING INFORMATION IS BIG, BIG BUSINESS world wide, as the RECIPIENTS of the game is attacked from all sides. But their positions too is FAST becoming OBSOLETE with those BOTS coming. The aim is not to curb any diseases either, WHY would they want too??? that is their bread and butter. Remember SELL OUT SYNDROME has many facets.
After reading this article being the person I am I looked up basal ganglia of the brain for a more specific medical definition. Why? The article as it is does not help me to understand Parkinson's disease any better. I found that there are several other ailments relating to the degeneration of this subcortical nuclei. I wish that when doctors speak they would break things down in such a way that the average man would understand. With any disease being armed with the knowledge of your condition will help you to understand and even allay your fears. The doctor is there to work with you to manage your condition; not behave as demi-gods which I believe is still a big problem in Barbados today. The days of the doctor saying this is what I want you to do because I am the doctor and you are the patient no longer pertains. This generation has the good and bad information at their finger tips because of the internet. Doctors need to remember that and work hand in hand not only with others of their ilk but with their patients. This would help to curb these diseases which are on the rise due to lifestyle changes and a host of other ills such as how we treat our environment. Life is a delicate balance and our body/temple a fascinating puzzle which must be cared for. Yet things can go wrong; which makes it incumbent for the docs to share with us what they know so we can do better.
@Sheron Inniss - Well spotted. Nothing much in this article. To live in the eagle world you must be able to spot the problem a mile away and ATTACK. The GENERAL CONSENSUS of MOST Doctors is that this is an ingrunt, poorly educated people with limited ability to understand if they try to explain. Mind you SOME of these doctors work hypocrisy and go AGAIN$T THE GRAIN.
WITHHOLDING INFORMATION IS BIG, BIG BUSINESS world wide, as the RECIPIENTS of the game is attacked from all sides. But their positions too is FAST becoming OBSOLETE with those BOTS coming. The aim is not to curb any diseases either, WHY would they want too??? that is their bread and butter. Remember SELL OUT SYNDROME has many facets.