Long Term Conditions

The most common sign of Parkinson’s is shaking of a patients body, most commonly the hands. With time these symptoms worsen and can become as serious as having difficulty swallowing in the later stages of the disease (WebMD, 2014). The symptoms that occur in between these two stages vary greatly. A symptom that develops shortly after the beginning stage is bradykinesia, slow movement (Mayo Clinic, 2014). This affects a person’s ability to walk or even the capability to get out of bed. Another symptom such as muscle rigidity occurs in numerous patients. This muscle stiffness can arise in any part of a victim’s body. This decreases a person’s area of movement because of the immense amount irritation that takes place.

The care and management of patients suffering with a long term condition is an integral part of the nurse’s role. With approximately 15 million people in the UK suffering from at least one chronic illness (DoH, 2012), it becomes apparent why the Department of Health (DoH) and the National Health Service (NHS) have had to put in to place advice and guidelines in order that the appropriate measures are taken to ensure that these patients are cared for in the most productive way. This essay is going to discuss the issues that are associated with long term conditions and chronic illness. The focus of this discussion is going to be a case study on a patient who is currently

J.N., a 65-year-old Caucasian female with a history of anxiety and depression, presents for diagnostic testing at Saint Mary Medical Center in Hobart, Indiana to confirm or deny a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, after presenting with recent onset of upper extremity tremor affecting both sides and facial masking. Patient history also includes bradykinesia, restlessness, fatigue, muscle weakness, and poor balance and coordination, all of which are common in a diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease. J.N. was referred to the Neurology Department of Saint Mary Medical Center after a routine appointment with her Cardiologist, who noted the recent onset of additional signs and symptoms. J.N. is my mother and my inspiration for this assignment.

Long Term Conditions (LTC) are illnesses for which there is no cure, yet can be managed with the correct medications and treatments. Common LTCs include high blood pressure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and arthritis (The King’s Fund 2015). The following essay will discuss LTCs and their prevalence in today's society, by first looking at statistics and the government policies that were developed as a result of said research. Secondly, this essay will examine different methods of developing a care plan for an individual following a biopsychosocial model. Lastly, a Long Term Condition will be examined that was experienced when interacting with a patient from a previous community placement; this individual was living with Chronic Heart Failure and this essay will critically evaluate CHF, including the ailments, causes and the various

The symptoms of Parkinson’s are followed. These are some Moderate Parkinson’s symptoms can be noticed with movements on both sides of the body, or the body starts to move more

Living with the disease causes impairment in many areas of the body. Motor impairment plays a big part in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The disease makes it hard to walk

Parkinson disease (PD), also referred to as Parkinson’s disease and paralysis agitans, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is the third most common neurologic disorder of older adults. It is a debilitating disease affecting motor ability and is characterized by four cardinal symptoms: tremor rigidity, bradykinesia or kinesis (slow movement/no movement), and postural instability. Most people have primary, or idiopathic, disease. A few patients have secondary parkinsonian symptoms from conditions such as brain tumors and certain anti-psychotic drugs.

Being unable to control your bladder, or difficulty urinating is also a complication of Parkinson’s. Due to a slower digestive tract, you may have constipation. Your blood pressure also changes. You will feel dizzy or lightheaded when you stand; this is due to orthostatic hypotension, a drop in blood pressure. You may also experience problems in your sense of smell. You may have trouble identifying a certain odor, or differentiating between smells. Fatigue and pain are also complications of the disease. You lose energy and quickly become tired. Pain is usually associated in different parts of the body.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that affects the motor system. It is marked by tremor at rest, muscular rigidity, postural instability, and slow, imprecise movement. The most obvious symptoms are movement related, which include; shaking, rigidity, slowness of movement, difficult with walking, balance, and gait. Other motor symptoms include: posture disturbances, such as a decrease in arm swing, a forward flexed posture, and the use of small steps when walking. Speech and swallowing disturbances are also common motor problems that can appear as well to a patient with Parkinson's disease. Young adults rarely experience Parkinson's disease because it is more common to affect

Parkinson’s disease has four main symptoms it is associated with: slowness of movement, tremors, stiffness, and trouble with balance. In order to be diagnosed, a patient must have “two of the four main symptoms present over a period of time” (“Understanding”). Along with

Symptom severity varies person-to-person and early signs sometimes go unnoticed. Usually the symptoms will begin unilaterally and eventually progress to both sides, with the original side remaining worse (Tagliati, 2007). People with PD also have a slumped posture with an abnormally slow gait with shuffling feet. They also may suffer from an issue called freezing. Freezing causes the person to be frozen in place involuntarily for a moment (National Parkinson’s Foundation). Because Parkinson’s causes bradykinesia, or slowing in motion, everyday task take more energy and time to complete. Tasks that seem simple to the healthy individual like getting out of bed is an accomplishment to those suffering with this disease.

Parkinson’s Disease is known as one of the most common progressive and chronic neurodegenerative disorders. It belongs to a group of conditions known as movement disorders. Parkinson disease is a component of hypokinetic disorder because it causes a decreased in bodily movement. It affects people who are usually over the age of 50. It can impair an individual motor as well as non-motor function. Some of the primary symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are characterized by tremors or trembling in hands, legs and arms. In early symptoms the tremor can be unilateral, appearing in one side of body but progression in the disease can cause it to spread to both sides; rigidity or a resistant to movement affects most people with Parkinson’s disease,

Definition: “Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive disease of the nervous system characterized by the cardinal features of rigidity, bradykinesia, tremor, and postural instability” (O’Sullivan and Schmitz, 2007). The condition can develop between age group 60 and 80 years and symptoms mostly appear around 60 years of age (O’Sullivan and Schmitz, 2007).

Parkinson’s Disease is a very common disorder these days. Over 10 million people live daily with Parkinson worldwide. Parkinson’s Disease was named after an English surgeon James Parkinson who wrote a detailed description essay called Shaking Palsy in 1817. The average age for Parkinson’s Disease is between 45 to 70 years old but you can also have juvenile or young onset as well. Most common symptoms of Parkinson are tremors, bradykinesia or akinesia, or rigidity or stiffness, and balance disorder. Parkinson’s Disease doesn’t have a cure and the cause is unknown it could be a number of things genetics, environmental triggers, age, or gender. Parkinson’s Disease happens because the dopaminergic neuron dies and

There is no definitive test that can diagnose Parkinson’s disease (PD). Diagnoses by physicians are usually made by looking at a patient’s medical history, observing for particular signs, and performing a comprehensive neurological exam. It can be difficult, however, as the principal symptoms of PD can be similar to those caused by certain medications or other degenerative brain