The source of this article is Xinhua: http://tinyurl.com/7mzwh
Parkinson's rate sharply up
www.chinaview.cn 2005-04-12 15:12:51
BEIJING, April 12 -- With the incidence of Parkinson's disease growing
rapidly over the past 20 years, Shanghai medical experts are calling for
more awareness of how to prevent and control the illness.
April 11 is World Parkinson's Disease Day.
A recent medical survey found that the disease affects some 1,000 of
every 100,000 Chinese people over the age of 55, 12 times the rate recorded
20 years ago.
Experts ascribed the rapid increase to environmental pollution and
overuse of chemicals such as pesticides.
"I am doing a project on the farmers' incidence on Parkinson's disease
and found that the ones using certain kinds of pesticide are more likely to
suffer from the disease," said Dr Jiang Yuping, from Huashan Hospital." It
deserves attention from the government and the medical community."
About half of Chinese patients never go to hospital for effective
diagnosis and treatment, especially in rural areas, doctors said.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous disease occurring most
often after the age of 50, associated with the destruction of brain cells
that produce dopamine and characterized by muscular tremors, slowing of
movement, partial facial paralysis, peculiarity of gait and posture, and
weakness.
There are 4 million Parkinson's disease patients in the world,
including 1.7 million in China. About 1 percent of Chinese over 55 suffer
Parkinson's disease and the incidence increases along with age.
Every year, there are 100,000 new patients in the nation.
"It is important to promote education to patients, family members and
the medical industry. The disease can be controlled well if the patient
start to take medicines in its early stage," said Dr Chen Shengdi from
Ruijin Hospital. "Present medications can prolong the survival period from
the previous five years to 10-20 years."
Wan guanghui, who has Parkinson's disease, said he started to develop
symptoms like walking difficulty and shaking in 1999. "I consulted many
medical books and found that I will become a vegetable. So, I followed
doctors' direction and take medicine regularly," said Wan, a retired
mechanic factory worker.
(Source: Shanghai Daily)
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