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what a positive story. Intend to use it on my next PD support group meeting/huddle on 29th july. it woiuld be great to get a photograph of mr. Teo for use in the session cheers haroon On 7/20/09, rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > secret recipe behind the mask > Posted on July 19th, 2009 by heroteo > Secret recipe behind the mask > > I often smiled as I watched the video recording of my kick-boxing exercise > which I have uploaded to YouTube a few weeks ago. My trainers and > videographer told me the same thing - "You do not look like a Parkinson's > patient at all". Even my doctor shook his head in disbelief and said, "This > is shocking. I can't imagine a 70-year-old Parkinson's patient doing such a > strenuous exercise such as kickboxing. I am sure that you are the only > Parkinson's patient in Malaysia who is doing the kickboxing exercise." > > As early as 1998, I already had both the motor and non-motor symptoms. Since > my diagnosis in 2002, I went through a period of depression, anxiety, denial > and anger. Subsequently, I bounced back after discovering a secret recipe > for fighting Parkinson's, which consisted of: knowledge (is power), > exercise, medications, nutrition / supplements and prayer. In my quest for > knowledge, I browsed various Parkinson's websites, raining them with > questions, questions and questions. I even started the first Parkinson's > blog in Malaysia (www.heroteo.com). I tried to learn everything about > Parkinson's in order to overcome all complications - the Chinese heroes won > their battles by understanding their enemies first. > . > Animal experiments showed that exercises may be neuroprotective. Rats which > were forced to exercise had a lesser degree of brain damage after they were > exposed to poison. In mice which were made to undergo treadmill exercises, > there was increased production of dopamine. > > Parkinson's patients are comparable to the car. The medications are needed > to help patients to start walking, while fuel or battery is needed to help > start the car engine. Exercises are needed to improve the patients' physical > mobility and endurance, while driving helps to recharge the battery. Thus, > exercises help our "engines" warm up before leaving home and keep the "cars" > going everyday. Even healthy people such as Bruce Lee, the Chinese kungfu > master, know that exercises are beneficial. > > As such, since 2005, I decided to "get physical". I am spending 3-4 hours > everyday at the California Fitness gym, doing a wide range of "heavy" > exercises such as kick-boxing, weight-training and spinning (indoor > cycling). Twice a week, I do yoga exercises at home with the guidance of a > trainer. > > Since this year, my physical condition has drastically improved. I sleep and > eat well (I eat to live a healthy and good life). I enjoy driving around the > Kuala Lumpur city with my wife everyday and going overseas for holiday. I > managed to reduce the daily dose of Parkinson's medications recently. > Sometimes, I wonder whether I am just a "normal person" behind the mask. > > Am I a Parkinson's patient? - Try taking my "killer" punch and you'd wonder > whether I really have Parkinson's. > > I know that it is technically difficult to prove that exercise has > neuroprotective effect in Parkinson's patients. Despite this, I believe that > exercise has slowed down my disease progression. I hope that my video > recording will bring hope and happiness to all Parkinson's patients in this > world, by reminding them that they can still live a physically active life. > > Mr. Hero Teo, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > 10th July 2009. > > Rayilyn Brown > Director AZNPF > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation > [log in to unmask] > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > -- Haroon Basheer ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn