There are four major symptoms which are key to be aware of when diagnosing the disease. There are also many other symptoms which have been observed in persons with Parkinson's disease. The most common of all the symptoms is the tremor. The classic PD tremor is a rhythmic back and forth movement of the thumb and forefinger, sometimes referred to as "pill rolling". However, trembling can also affect the arms, legs, face and jaw. Approximately seventy-five percent of PD patients develop tremor, particularly in the earliest of stages. Tremors tend to affect only one side of the body, which t

As well as medications, surgical procedures are also available for PD patients. The procedures are sophisticated but reduce overall Parkinson disability. Thalamotomy and pallidotomy, for instance, are to help with tremors. One of the latest advances in neurosurgery is to conduct controlled trials with deep brain stimulation. During this procedure, an electrode is planted deep within the brain and controlled by the patient with an on/off magnetic device. Rehabilitation therapy is also very helpful when trying to re-acquire the physical abilities lost due to PD and to help make a daily life smoother. Such therapy sessions include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. There is realistic hope for a cure in the foreseeable future from medication advances or surgical innovations (www.parkinson.org/treatment.htm).

Furthermore, there are also secondary forms of Parkinson's disease. Various drugs such as haloperidol, thioridazine, chlorpromazine and some high-blood-pressure drugs that contain resperine may interfere with the production of dopamine in the brain. Once the individual stops taking the drugs, the symptoms commonly disappear (13).

Some other symptoms which may occur are urinary problems along with constipation, a change in complexion (oily to dry or vice versa), rashes, and excessive sweat causing a feeling of heat or cold. These problems can usually be alleviated with the application of standard skin treatments and medications (Cram 6-7). Some people also experience sleep loss, restlessness, nightmares and difficulty staying asleep through the night. These symptoms may be a direct result from PD or a side effect from the medications used to treat the disease. Another common problem is micrographia, writing problems. If the person's handwriting is compared to his/her handwriting before this symptom takes its course, one can see that the new handwriting is much smaller and continues to shrink as the writing progresses. The person tends to get cramps in the arm and hand while writing, known as writers' cramp. With proper treatment, this problem should be alleviated. A final but very important other possible symptom is a loss of facial expression. The person is no longer able to show his/her emotions through facial expressions such as smiling, laughing, or even frowning due to the loss of automatic muscle movements (8).

The final major symptom that PD patients tend to encounter is impaired balance and coordination, which therefore causes walking problems. The core of the problem is the person's lack of ability to balance his/her body any longer. The person may tilt to one side when sitting and not be able to straighten up without assistance. The person has trouble getting in and out of bed, chairs, and cars. It is evident that a person has Parkinson's disease when seen walking.

To date, there is no known prevention or cure for Parkinson's disease. Persons who feel they need to be checked, should see their physician and stay with one doctor in order to form a good doctor-patient relationship. There is no magical pill which can take PD away forever. However, PD is not a fatal illness (www.parkinson.org/pdedu.htm). There are however, medications which can help alleviate some of the symptoms. Levodopa (also called L-dopa), the active anti-Parkinson drug in Sinimet is the single most beneficial drug to relieve symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Levodopa enters the brain and is converted to dopamine, the neurotransmitter that is low in PD. Low dose Sinimet is usually started as soon as an incapacity from PD symptoms begin to interfere with daily activities. People tend to continue their use of Sinimet, although after a prolonged use, the body becomes accustomed to it and the person does not receive the same relief as at the beginning of the treatment

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