Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition, affects a person's movements, causing symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, postural instability, and slowing of movement. While research is still needed to fully understand the impact and effectiveness of alternative treatments, cannabidiol (CBD) oil has gained attention in the medical community for its potential to provide relief from symptoms associated with this condition.
Parkinson's disease - what is it and what are the symptoms associated with it?
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly affects dopamine-producing neurons. Symptoms generally develop slowly over years. Their progression may vary from person to person due to the diversity of the disease.
Among the most common symptoms of Parkinson's disease are:
- Resting tremor . It increases at rest and decreases when various movements are performed. In most cases, the hands are affected first, followed by the arms and legs. Although it occurs at rest, patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease do not complain of tremors in their sleep.
- Slowness and a reduction in the ability to move (called bradykinesia and hypokinesia).
- Stiffness in the lower and upper limbs.
- Gait and balance problems (postural instability).
Although movement-related symptoms are widely discussed, people with Parkinson's disease are often more affected by their non-motor symptoms than their motor symptoms. Examples of non-motor symptoms include: depression, anxiety, apathy, hallucinations, constipation, orthostatic hypotension, sleep disturbances, loss of sense of smell, and a variety of cognitive impairments.
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Diagnosing Parkinson's disease and its stages
Diagnosing Parkinson's disease is a complex process, which involves evaluating characteristic symptoms and ruling out other conditions that may have similar manifestations.
- Clinical examination : The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is established mainly based on the clinical examination performed by the neurologist. Patients are evaluated for the presence of characteristic symptoms, such as resting tremor, bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, and balance and posture disorders.
- Medical history and symptom assessment : The doctor will review the patient's medical history and investigate the patient's current symptoms. It is important to determine when the symptoms began and how they have progressed over time.
- Ruling out other conditions : Because the symptoms of Parkinson's disease can be similar to other neurological or systemic conditions, it is necessary to rule out other possible causes. This may involve additional tests, such as blood tests, brain imaging (such as MRI or CT), and sometimes even single-photon emission tomography of the dopamine transporter to assess the functionality of the dopamine transmission pathway.
Once a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease has been made, the condition can be divided into several phases or stages, depending on the severity and progression of symptoms:
- Stage I : This is the early stage of the disease, where symptoms may be mild and do not significantly impact daily activities. Typically, mild tremor is present on one side of the body.
- Stage II : In this stage, symptoms worsen and motor dysfunction extends to both sides of the body. The patient may begin to have difficulty performing daily activities.
- Stage III : Characterized by worsening symptoms and loss of balance, this stage presents an increased risk of falls.
- Stage IV : Patients in this phase often require support to walk and may have difficulty performing daily activities without assistance.
- Stage V : This is the advanced stage of the disease, in which symptoms become severe and non-motor symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and hallucinations may also occur.
CBD Oil and Parkinson's Disease
Medical use of CBD oil
CBD oil (cannabidiol) is a type of oil extracted from the cannabis plant that has gained popularity in recent years due to its potential medical benefits. CBD is one of over a hundred chemical compounds known as cannabinoids, which are found in the cannabis or marijuana plant. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it does not produce the euphoric effect associated with marijuana.
