Parkinson's Disease 
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What is Parkinson’s disease? Do you need a Permax injury lawyer?
Parkinson's disease is a chronic, progressive neurological disorder has been called "shaking palsy" when it was first described by James Parkinson in 1817. The symptoms include tremor, stiffness, difficulty moving, and problems with walking and balance. Parkinson's disease may be difficult to diagnose in the early stages because the symptoms begin gradually and progress over time.
Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, but treatments exist to help control symptoms. People with Parkinson’s disease can live a normal life span, although they may develop complications such as pneumonia in the later stages and are at heightened risk of falling or choking.
Parkinson's disease affects between a half million to a million people in the United States. Around 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and that number is expected to rise as the population ages.
Have you or family member suffered heart valve damage as a result of being prescribed Permax? You may qualify for a contingency based Permax injury lawsuit. Contact us for your free legal Permax consultation.
What causes Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson's disease occurs when dopamine-producing nerve cells die in a region of the brain that plays a critical role in smooth motor movements. The underlying causes for the brain cell death are unknown, though environmental factors and/or genetic susceptibility are thought to be responsible. People who live in rural areas and drink well water seem to have a higher incidence of the disease. Researchers have explored whether exposure to pesticides might play a role. Also exposure to heavy metals such as copper may be associated with a higher incidence of Parkinson’s disease.
Most people who develop Parkinson's are in their 60s, although younger people also are affected. The disease is slightly more prevalent in males and in Caucasians. The actor Michael J. Fox has put a celebrity face on Parkinson’s disease.
What is the problem with Permax?
Studies showed that moderate to severe heart valve leaks were found in greater frequency with patients taking Permax and Dostinex compared to patients other safer medications. This crucial information should be addressed when discussing the risk versus potential benefit decision with the patient.
A dopamine receptor like Permax behaves like dopamine. Dopamine-receptors play an important role in the brain's ability to learn and control movement. Dopamine receptors are special proteins that lie between the inner and outer layer of the membrane around brain and other nerve cells. There are five types of dopamine receptors, each type playing a different role in controlling the response of the cell to the arrival of a dopamine neurotransmitter molecule.
Dopamine is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter. When the delicate balance between production and destruction of dopamine, its inhibition and excitation, and the various connections between the different types of receptors is upset, different conditions emerge. One of these is Parkinson's disease, associated with low levels of dopamine. Too little dopamine reduces the ability of the brain and nervous system to smoothly perform motor functions, leading to the jerky movements in people who have the disease.
