Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, degenerative condition that affects the central nervous system and leads to the appearance of symptoms, among which tremors, lack of balance and slowness of movement are the most common. The condition cannot be cured but rather managed through medication and alternative therapies. CareClinic web app or the iPad app can be used either by the patient or caregiver to track and manage the patients’ treatment.
Resources for Managing Parkinson’s Disease
Upon being diagnosed with a chronic and progressive condition, such as Parkinson’s disease, you will have to adjust to a new life. Suddenly, you will have a complex treatment plan to follow and you will have to pay attention to your every symptom. Moreover, you will have difficulties keeping track of everything, as the condition can lead to memory problems.
You can rely on CareClinic as the app for tracking Parkinson’s disease. It will help you adhere to your medication plan and other treatments, thus maintaining the best possible state of health.
The smartphone health app is meant to help one live a good quality of life and find the motivation to go on. Constantly developed in accordance with the feedback provided by those who suffer from this condition, the application serves as a practical tool for everyday life.
Improved Adherence to medical treatment
App Features
Parkinson’s app serves as a pill reminder. Even though you might find it simple at first to follow your treatment, as the condition progresses, things are bound to get a little bit more difficult. Your doctor might recommend several drugs, each with its own dose and frequency. Instead of having to write everything down, you can rely on the app to record your treatment plan.
As it is essential to adhere to the prescribed medication (especially in the early stages but later on as well), you should be happy to know that you can set up different reminders for each drug you are taking. Just register the medication into the application or search for it in the extensive database, then add its frequency and dose.
You will receive reminders at the desired time and date, as well as consequent notifications upon not taking the medication (snooze feature available for all). The reminders serve not only to tell you when to take your medication but how to take it (in accordance with the recommendations of your treating physician).
Health Journal & Self-Care Action Plans
Apart from reminding you to take your medication, the CareClinic app can be used as a Parkinson’s symptom tracker. Thus, it will offer valuable support regarding the management of your chronic condition. You can make daily records about the symptoms you’ve experienced, referring to the monthly health report for a general overview.
The health diary allows for the simple tracking of your symptoms but you can also use it to record the side-effects or adverse reactions of various medications. Moreover, you can record health measurements, such as blood pressure, body weight and any other kind of values important to your condition.
Thanks to this logged data, you will be able to monitor your manifestations and discuss the subsequent course with your doctor. This information will help healthcare professionals find the best treatment regimen for your tremors and other associated symptoms. You will find that CareClinic’s health app is useful for both the early and late stages of Parkinson’s disease.
Recording symptoms and their characteristics
The symptom tracker of CareClinic is a useful feature, as it allows you to enter symptoms and additional information about them. For example, you can record how many times a day you have tremors and in what way do these occur: at rest, with activities and so on. You can also mention their intensity, location and how they influenced your everyday activities.
The same procedure can be followed for any other symptom, such as lack of balance, stiffness or muscle/joint pain. You can list all of the symptoms that affect your motor abilities, using descriptive words to offer a clearer picture of how you are feeling (stabbing pain, difficulty maintaining my balance, etc.). However, you should not hesitate to record emotional/psychological symptoms as well (depression, anxiety, irritability, etc.).
People who suffer from Parkinson’s disease have to handle a lot of lifestyle changes and fight negative thoughts, not to mention a whirlwind of emotions. You can release some of those emotions and find the strength to pursue your treatment by writing in the CareClinic journal. These entries can contain your thoughts about living with Parkinson’s disease and even strategies on how to cope with its multitude of manifestations.
A valuable monthly report
You can look at CareClinic as the right app to manage Parkinson’s disease. Just think about the fact that you will be given a monthly report, which is based on all of the information you have entered. This can be exported as a PDF document or used in a printable form, and shared with the doctor – it will definitely offer a great overview on how you are doing (from one month to the other).
Facts on Parkinson’s Disease
The neurodegenerative condition affects a specific area in the brain, influencing the production of dopamine. The symptoms do not appear all of a sudden but rather develop over the course of time. One starts to present tremors, especially at rest and initially in the hands. The movements slow down and one begins to suffer from stiffness and balance problems. Apathy and depression might follow.
Living with Parkinson’s disease can be challenging, especially since there is no cure for the condition. The treatment options available concern symptom control and also the improvement of the overall quality of life. As the condition is progressive, adhering to the treatment plan is a must. One must go in for regular check-ups, take his/her medication in a responsible manner and try out different treatments/therapies.
The chronic condition is commonly diagnosed in the older population but it can be seen in younger people as well. According to the latest statistics, 1 in 500 people suffer from it, with an equal percentage of men and women receiving this diagnosis.
Apart from the general symptoms, such as tremors, stiffness, balance problems, affected posture, and slowness of movement, one can present additional manifestations. These include fatigue, muscle and joint pain, bladder and bowel problems, eye problems and dizziness. One can present speech impairment and swallowing difficulties, as well as anxiety, depression and memory loss.
What causes Parkinson’s disease?
The manifestations of Parkinson’s disease are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, with the dopamine metabolism being affected and leading to abnormal movements. However, the exact cause behind this pathological change has yet to be found.
In rare cases, Parkinson’s disease is an inherited condition, the defective gene is transmitted from parents to children. In recent years, it has been proposed that environmental factors play a significant role, with pesticides and air pollution being often incriminated. Antipsychotic medication and additional conditions (brain related, such as stroke) and lead to this condition as well.
How is the condition managed?
The standard treatment for Parkinson’s disease is constituted of medication. This is meant to restore the healthy balance of the chemicals in the brain but one must be carefully monitored, as there is a significant risk of side-effects. The earlier the treatment is started, the better the prognosis is going to be.
A common drug recommended for symptom management is Levodopa, which is a precursor of dopamine. The regular administration improves the quality of movement, reducing stiffness and weakness. There are drugs in which Levodopa is combined with Carbidopa, which guarantees less severe/frequent side-effects.
Dopamine agonists, which are similar to Levodopa, are administered as substitutes of dopamine. These have a positive effect but not as intense as one of the above-mentioned drug. Among the most often prescribed, you will find Bromocriptine, Lisuride, and Cabergoline.
Other drugs recommended include MAO-B inhibitors, which represent an alternative to Levodopa and are often recommended for the early stages of the disease. They increase the levels of dopamine by blocking the enzymes which actually break down the substance. COMT inhibitors are sometimes administered simultaneously with Levodopa, preventing it from being broken down as well.
Patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease can benefit from physical therapy, which can provide relief from muscle stiffness and increase the overall range of motion in major & minor joints. Speech therapy addresses speech impairment and swallowing difficulties, while deep brain stimulation is recommended for more severe cases.
Health app – simple and easy to use
Our app allows those who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease to keep their condition in check. As the application has a simple interface, it is easy to use, regardless of one’s age or knowledge of health apps. Patients can tailor the application to their specific needs and take advantage of its various features, such as the self-care plan, health diary, and symptom tracker.
You can use CareClinic to get a better understanding of your treatment plan and ensure that necessary medication adherence. As you will be given constant reminders to take your pills, you will find it easier to stick to treatment and avoid the off periods, which might make your manifestations worse. The health app is essential for the effective management of your treatment plan, and also for keeping your symptoms under control.
If you are looking for additional features, keep in mind that you can add information about your current diet and make sure you are eating only nutritious, healthy meals. You can also add exercise goals, information on levels of physical activity and even keep a sleep diary. With this health app, you will find it easier to manage every aspect related to your life with Parkinson’s disease.
