Diagnosing and Treating Parkinson's Disease Online
Parkinson’s disease develops when nerve cells in the brain break down and die. Parkinson’s symptoms surface once there’s a loss of certain nerve cells that produce a brain chemical called dopamine.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s often develop gradually and on one side of the body. As the disease progresses, people may have trouble accomplishing everyday tasks, including:
- Walking
- Talking
- Sleeping
- Chewing
- Swallowing
- Speaking
Although it’s unknown what causes Parkinson’s, there are factors that may play a role including specific genetic mutations and exposure to certain toxins in the environment. Some complications of the disease include difficulty thinking, depression and emotional changes, bladder problems, and constipation.
During a video consult on Amwell your doctor will ask you a series of targeted questions to determine if your symptoms point to Parkinson’s. Then your provider will proceed to determine the best treatment plan for you. Your provider may recommend in-person examination by a specialist if needed. Your treatment plan is based on the duration and severity of your symptoms and your medical history.
Once a diagnosis has been made, your doctor will go over the risks and benefits of the various treatment plans. Treatment for Parkinson’s is different depending on the severity.
Options for treatment of Parkinson’s may include:
- Carbidopa-levodopa
- Dopamine agonists
- MAO-B inhibitors
- Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors
