Aside from working on a personal plan with prescribed medication, there are positive steps you can take to cope better with the illness. Experts share their advice on living with Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
Fill up with healthy foods
Concentrate on eating a balanced, healthy diet packed with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Feel like indulging a little? That’s fine, just monitor your intake of certain beverages such as coffee and red wine.
Take up dancing
Dancing can be a fantastic way to improve your movement if you have PD. If you struggle with balance, techniques you’ll learn from dances like salsa and tango, can help when you’re moving around in your day-to-day life.
Talk it out
If you’ve just been diagnosed with PD and you’re feeling overwhelmed it’s important to remember you’re not alone. The Parkinson’s and Related Movement Disorders Association of South Africa (www.parkinsons.co.za) offer support groups. Talk to your friends and family to ensure you aren’t carrying the burden of your diagnosis all alone.
Become an expert
Everyone’s experience of PD is different and symptoms can vary a lot between people. Rather than relying on ‘Dr Google’, seek medical advice and stay updated on research developments. Evolve with your illness and learn how to make treatments work best for you.
Make plans for your financial future
Thanks to medical advances, it is possible to work with PD. You and your employer can look at changes to make work easier, or you might consider flexi-time or even changing your career entirely, for something less demanding but still fulfilling. Look into what support and benefits there are and don’t be afraid to claim what you’re entitled to.
Think positively
Focus on what you can do rather than what you can’t. Keep up hobbies and adapt activities you enjoy. If you’ve always been quite sporty, you may not be able to run a marathon but you could take part in a local fun run.
Join a choir
By joining a local choir you can meet new people and enjoy singing. In fact, regular singing can help to improve vocal loudness, pitch range and facial mobility, which can often be affected by PD, and can help build confidence.
DISCLAIMER: The testimonials presented on this website are applicable to the individuals depicted only and may not be representative of the experience of others. The information provided within this site is strictly for the purposes of information only and is not a replacement or substitute for professional advice
