I HAVE ADDED SOME OF MY OWN -  PERHAPS YOU COULD DO THE SAME. RAY

Self Care Tips For People With Parkinson's Disease
by Jeremy g iParker - Date: 2006-12-11 -

Parkinson's disease can be overwhelming for many people who have it. Not
only must patients face their physical changes in your body, but they must
also deal with feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. But there is hope
and there are many things patients can do to help stay active and healthy
longer. The experts at Mayo Clinic recommend the following strategies:

Healthy Diet
A healthy and balanced diet that is includes fruits, vegetables and grains
can help protect the body against damages from free radicals. Both fruits
and vegetables are high in antioxidants which are often more effective than
nutritional supplements. A healthy, high-fiber diet can help prevent
constipation, which is a known and common side effect to some of the
medications used to treat Parkinson's disease.
For many patients, a fiber supplement, such as Citrucel or Metamucil is the
answer to preventing constipation. Patients deciding on using these products
should begin using them slowly, according to the Mayo Clinic. To do
otherwise may cause loose stool formation.
It is also advised that patients drink plenty of fluids as part of a healthy
diet. Water and fruit juices will reduce the risk of constipation.

R - I have found Milk Thistle and prune juice to be helpful.

Physical Activity
As important as diet is regular exercise. This will help the patient stay
physically active longer by helping the body maintain its strength and
flexibility. Physicians often recommend physical therapy for patients, but
any regular physical activity is considered beneficial. Even such activities
as gardening, walking, swimming and jogging are great ways to keep the body
fit. There are several excellent exercise programs available for patients
with limited mobility. Many patients enjoy and benefits from chair aerobics,
a form of seated aerobics that allows for exercise to the patients body.
These programs can be found in most areas.
Patients should schedule exercise time when their medication is working at
its peak. It is important that all patients stretch and warm up before
beginning their routine.

R -A treadmill is good because you can hold on.  Recently put in 2 putting
greens in backyard.   It can make former golfers feel like they are still in
the game.


Walking
Problems with walking are some of the main symptoms of Parkinsons disease.
This is because of the loss of balance which leads to an awkward gait.
Learning to walk properly can help in preventing falls. The Mayo Clinic
physical therapy department offers these suggestions:
Buy a good pair of walking shoes. Proper support can help the patient walk
more easily and help prevent falling into bad habits. Running shoes should
be avoided as they do not assist with balance problems. A slow pace is often
a good idea if a patient feels the onset of the "shuffle". Patients should
be reminded to use good posture practices when walking. Patients should try
to keep their shoulders directly above their hips while walking. It may feel
awkward at first, but with practice, it will become more natural. When you
walking, patients should take as long a step as is safely possible. They
should be encouraged to lift their feet extra high, and swing their arms to
help with balance. Keep in mind that one of the things that Parkinson's
takes from the patient is his natural, involuntary movements, like swinging
his arms while walking. Patients should make a conscious attempt to restore
those movements. One of the most frustrating effects of Parkinson's is what
is often called 'freezing'. This is a feeling that the patient is stuck in
place and that he cannot continue forward. This often occurs in doorways or
thresholds. Should this happen the patient should rock gently from side to
side and then try again. Another tip is to pretend that he is stepping over
something on the floor.

R - must use walker with seat which allows me to sit if needed.

Falling
As Parkinson's disease progresses, patients may fall more often than they
did in the past. Parkinson's affects the balance and coordination centers in
the brain and when these are out of sync falls can occur. Patients should be
encouraged to improve and maintain their balance skills.
Asking about exercises that help improve balance is a good first step. Tai
Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art that emphasizes slow, graceful movements
to relax the muscles and joints, is an excellent choice for many patients.
Install handrails throughout the home, especially on stairways. Keep the
floor free of obstructions. Remove area rugs that can cause trips or slide
beneath the feet, and keep phone and electrical cords along the edges of the
walls and out of the way. Install grab bars in the bathroom to help with
getting in and out of the tub and off of the toilet. Ensure the phone is
within easy reach of the bed or favorite chair. A cordless phone is also a
very good idea.

R -  If I don't take my phone with me I cannot answer it in time to beat the
message recorder.

 For more information and resources on Parkinson's Disease, its symptoms,
causes and treatment solutions visit Jeremy Parker's comprehensive reference
guide on Parkinson's Disease.

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