Link Between Osteoporosis and Parkinson

Osteoporosis is a bone disease caused by the reduction of bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, resulting in fractures.  Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder with loss of motor control. Patients with Parkinson's disease are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis due to their limited activity, lower muscle strength an bone mass.

A research paper submitted at the American Academy of Neurology in 2006 clearly highlights the danger of osteoporosis in PD patients. Of the 166 Parkinson's patients studied, nearly 51 % of the females and 29% of the men had osteoporosis. A number of them also had osteopenia or lowered bone mass- 45% of the women and 48% of the men. This firmly establishes the link between osteoporosis and Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease symptoms that may lead to osteoporosis

• Tremors

Incessant shaking or tremors are the first and early sign of Parkinson's. This uncontrollable shaking is due to loss of nerve control and it severely affects Parkinson's patients. It also hampers the free movement and routine activities of the PD patients, resulting in the quick onset of osteoporosis.

• Reduced movement

Patient's with Parkinson's find it difficult to move freely as they have poor posture, balance and  reduced bone and muscle strength. All this prevents them from leading an active life with ample movement. This reduced movement and lack of mobile activity lead to osteoporosis.

• Slow gait

Parkinson's patients exhibit slow gait due to loss of motor function. They lack control of their movements and body balance and hence move in a stumbling manner. This slow gait may lead due to loss of bone mass and osteoporosis.

• Bradykinesia

Bradykinesia or slow movement is another Parkinson's disease symptom that may lead to osteoporosis. Poor nerve and muscular strength and coordination is the reason for the slowed movement in PD patients. This lethargic movement may cause osteoporosis if not attended to immediately.

• Akinesia

The rigidity of muscles or akinesia is another PD symptom that increases the risk of osteoporosis. Caused due to muscular stiffness due to impaired movement, akinesia may reduce muscle and bone strength and cause osteoporosis.

• Vitamin D deficiency

Due to decreased activity and exposure to sunlight, Vitamin D deficiency occurs in PD patients. this reduces bone mass and density leading to osteoporosis.

All the above Parkinson's disease symptoms may accelerate the risk and incidence of osteoporosis in PD patients but can be effectively controlled and cured with regular exercise and  the right medication.

Osteoporosis medications for PD patients

Parkinson's patients are treated with Levodopa as a form of medication. This Levodopa treatment is found to increase the level of homocysteine in the blood and this may further on lead to osteoporosis in PD patients. This condition called "hyperhomocysteinemia" is peculiar to PD patients and causes osteopenia or lowered bone mass which is the first among osteoporosis disease stages.

The only way to arrest this medical problem in PD patients taking Levodopa is to give them additional B12 and Folic acid supplementation to reduce elevated homocysteine levels, thereby preventing osteoporosis.

PD patients also consume SSRI antidepressants to prevent depression. These antipsychotic drugs can increase the risk of hip fractures. Instead, tricyclic anti depressants can be used for such depressed D patients as they do not increase the risk of osteoporotic fractures.

In addition, PD patients have to be treated for reduced bone mass density, calcium and Vitamin D deficiency. A dietary intake of 1200-1500 mg of calcium is a must for PD patients along with enough Vitamin D for its bone absorption.

Biphosphonates like alendronate or risedronate are best recommended to treat osteoporosis in PD patients. Use of these osteoporosis medications can help them combat osteoporosis effectively and completely.

Parkinson's disease is not a singular disease but it is accompanied by a host of other associated medical ailments like osteoporosis. Osteoporosis in PD patients must be addressed immediately with awareness, exercise and medication.

6 Techniques to Sleep Better After a Stroke

Sleep is an integral part of human life and is essential for a healthy brain. Brain, the most significant organ that uses almost 20% of the total oxygen consumption, needs a sufficient amount of rest and medical support in order to recover especially after a major health condition like a stroke.

Disrupted sleep is one of the common post-stroke effects faced by many stroke survivors. Due to lack of sleep, the brain feels tired after a stroke. Doctors recommend at least 9 to 10 hours of sleep for stroke patients as sleep is the key to a speedy recovery. Making the recovery difficult, sleep disruptions affect many individuals after a stroke.

Lack of sleep not only causes depression and stress but also increases the intensity of the other symptoms such as memory loss, fatigue and nausea. Sleep helps the brain to clean after itself while flushing out the toxins. Sleeplessness may build-up the toxic substances in the brain, further damaging it on top of the stroke.

If you are a stroke survivor who is experiencing excessive sleep, feel blessed and continue to sleep for a sufficient amount of time. If you are a person facing difficulty in getting adequate sleep, seek doctor help. In addition, the following tips and simple lifestyle changes could help you in getting better sleep.

• Relax the Stressed Mind - A stressful mind could never be relaxed and it is next to impossible to make it sleep. Practice various stress relieving activities such as simple physical activities like jogging and walking.
• Meditation and Yoga - Make meditation and yoga as part of your regular life. Especially, yoga shows an enormous effect on sleep disorders as it works as the best medicine to relax the body and mind. Practice meditation and pranayama as they are proven to be best solutions for sleeplessness.
• Air Flow Improvement Using Medications - The breathing patterns may get affected due to the side-effects of a stroke. Check for the blocks and signs of sleep apnea and other breathing disorders to help the individual to have a better sleep. Sleep gets disrupted if the person is facing any breathing issues.
• Develop and Stick to a Daily Sleeping Routine - It is the common sleep tip that could work wonders. Train your body and brain by going to bed at a particular time every day. After a certain point of time, the brain starts feeling sleepy as soon as the clocks tick that time.
• Avoid Sleeping During Day - If you are finding it difficult to sleep at night, never take the naps during the daytime, irrespective of their small tenure. If you just include moderate physical activity (based on the body support), your body drives you to the bed as the time arrives.
• Use the Bright Light Therapy - Stroke may leave your biological cycles disrupted and it may require some effort to catch the rhythm again. Use the Bright Light Therapy technique that helps people to readjust their inner clocks. This is a simple practice that is performed in the bright light of the morning for 30 minutes. This activity also helps in getting vitamin D which helps in better sleep. 

In addition, ensure your bedroom is dimly lit, the pillow and mattress are comfortable. Few people respond better to the aroma and music therapy. Try them to see if they are working for you. Keep the room temperature at the suitable levels. 

Sleep plays a significant role in the recovery of the people who have survived a stroke. Use these techniques along with medical help for a quality sleep during the recovery stages of a stroke.