Today, Dr. Homer Ferree, M.D., and I sit down to talk about Parkinson’s Disease and Essential Tremor. Dr. Ferree is an Instructor at Ivy Tech College in Sellersburg, Indiana, and a retired family physician.
Parkinson’s disease (PD)is a movement disorder affecting mostly people over the age of sixty. There are cases of men and women between the ages of twenty and fifty who are diagnosed with “early onset” Parkinson’s. There’s no one specific cause for someone getting Parkinson’s disease itself; those who are diagnosed with early onset PD usually see the slower progression of the disease because they have fewer health problems compared to those much older in age. Ten to twenty percent of those diagnosed with the disease are under fifty years old, and half of those are diagnosed before the age of forty. According to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, “Approximately 90,000 new cases of Parkinson’s are diagnosed each year in the United States, meaning somewhere around 9,000 – 18,000 are young-onset patients.” Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease are referred to as “Parkinsonism.” These include tremors, limb stiffness, balance problems, and bradykinesia and hypokinesia.
According to a previous article published on this website, “Essential Tremors (ET) are symptoms similar to Parkinson’s Disease but with differences Essential Tremor (ET) is a neurological disorder characterized by rhythmic, involuntary shaking that affects areas of the body like the hands, arms, head, vocal cords, and face. People who experience these symptoms of ET will live with tremors while performing everyday actions such as eating, drinking, writing, speaking, or holding objects. The progression of these symptoms starts with small movements in their body and gradually worsens over time. These triggers, including movements requiring coordination, such as lifting a glass, writing, or even speaking, will often bring out the tremor. Essential Tremor is categorized based on when and how it is activated, dividing it into two main types: rest tremor and action tremor. Rest tremor occurs when the body is at rest and is often linked to Parkinson’s disease. On the other hand, action tremor takes place during voluntary muscle movement.” See What Is Essential Tremor for the full article.”
This podcast is created for individuals who have recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s or Essential Tremor, presenting the facts clearly and straightforwardly to inform and educate listeners about the basics of the disease. However, for personalized healthcare decisions regarding Parkinson’s or any other condition, it is always important to consult your primary physician first.
All media by Chris Denny, unless noted.
