Recognizing Changing Symptoms In Parkinson’s Disease May Help Patients To Better Manage Their Condition

Recognizing Changing Symptoms In Parkinson’s Disease May Help Patients To Better Manage Their Condition

Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects about 1 million people in the United States and 50,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. As researchers learn more about the disease, improved treatment options are possible.

That’s good news for people like Paul Ramirez, a World War II veteran and avid dancer. He was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1999, after his wife saw him shuffling his feet during their daily neighborhood walks. Like many people with PD, Ramirez was treated with a traditional levodopa medication to manage his symptoms.

Levodopa is the most widely used symptomatic PD treatment and has remained the “gold standard” of care for nearly 40 years. The majority of people with PD eventually need levodopa treatment to control their symptoms, even if they begin their therapy with other medications. After several years of treatment with levodopa, however, people with PD may see changes in the way their medication controls their symptoms. Symptoms may return before it is time for the next dose of medication.

For Ramirez, the change in duration of his symptom control became increasingly noticeable after the first two to three years of levodopa treatment. Not only did he find that the onset of daily symptoms was becoming less predictable, he also found that his “off” time was increasing, meaning his motor symptoms, like freezing and slowness of movement, lasted for longer periods of time during each day.

Since Ramirez’s PD symptoms were not controlled as long as they could be, he needed to use a walker in order to maintain his balance, which severely limited his ability to participate in the activities that he enjoyed.

“I love to dance, but within a few years of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, I found that I not only couldn’t dance, but many times I was even too weak to walk. It was very frustrating,” says Ramirez.

The change in symptom control that he experienced is called “wearing off.” Symptoms associated with levodopa therapy “wearing off” can include both motor and nonmotor symptoms. Motor symptoms may include trembling or shaking and nonmotor symptoms may include anxiety or feeling restless. When levodopa medication “wears off,” it can make even basic daily activities, such as walking and dressing, difficult for the person with Parkinson’s disease.

Ramirez’s doctor, Kevin Callerame, M.D., staff Adult Neurologist at the NeuroMedical Center in Baton Rouge, La., says, “The good news is that the motor symptoms of ‘wearing off’ can be treated with newer levodopa medications that can help increase the time levodopa controls the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.”

When Dr. Callerame saw him in the summer of 2004, the physician noticed that he would have frequent freezing episodes.

Dr. Callerame began treating Ramirez with a Parkinson’s disease medication called Stalevo® (carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone). Stalevo is an enhanced levodopa medication that combines levodopa with two other components to reduce its side effects and extend its benefits. Stalevo tablets are indicated for certain PD patients who have levodopa-related “wearing off” motor complications.

In the year since Ramirez’s medication has changed, Dr. Callerame says, “Ramirez’s symptoms have been controlled for four to five hours, versus one to two hours, following each dose of Stalevo.” For Ramirez, longer symptom control has enabled him to walk more easily, and that has given him the confidence to try other activities that he once enjoyed.

Dr. Callerame urges people with Parkinson’s disease to communicate openly with their doctors because different treatment options may be available. However, in order to treat “wearing off,” it must first be identified.

A new, free-of-charge information and resource kit is available for people with Parkinson’s disease that can help to identify the signs and symptoms of “wearing off.” The kit contains a diary card to track when symptoms come back between doses of medication.

To order a free StEP Kit, call 1-866-STEP-KIT (1-866-783-7548) toll-free or visit www.stepkit.net.

Ramirez’s story represents the successful treatment with Stalevo (carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone) of an actual patient with Parkinson’s disease and experiencing “wearing off.” Because every patient responds differently, results may vary. In a clinical trial, Stalevo provided, on average, 1.4 more hours a day of symptom relief than standard levodopa.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of “wearing off” can help you manage your Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

Important Information for Patients Regarding Stalevo®: Stalevo® (carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone) tablets are indicated for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Stalevo is a medicine that can be used instead of carbidopa/levodopa and Comtan® (entacapone) by patients taking those medicines as separate tablets. Depending on levodopa dose and side effects, Stalevo can also be used to replace carbidopa/levodopa when the benefits of levodopa are wearing off. Please ask your health care professional if Stalevo is appropriate for you. Stalevo is supplied as tablets in three strengths: Stalevo 50, containing 12.5 mg carbidopa, 50 mg levodopa and 200 mg entacapone; Stalevo 100, containing 25 mg carbidopa, 100 mg levodopa and 200 mg entacapone; and Stalevo 150, containing 37.5 mg carbidopa, 150 mg levodopa and 200 mg entacapone. The most common side effects of Stalevo are unwanted or uncontrollable movements (known as dyskinesia); nausea; diarrhea; excessive muscle movements (known as hyperkinesia); harmless discoloration of urine, sweat and/or saliva; diminished or slow movements (known as hypokinesia); abdominal pain; dizziness; constipation; fatigue; pain; and hallucinations. Some of the more serious side effects may include severe diarrhea, severe dyskinesia, hallucinations, other mental disturbances, orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure), rhabdomyolysis (a muscle disease), and symptoms resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome (a condition characterized by fever and muscle stiffness). Tell your health care professional if you have bothersome side effects. He or she can make adjustments that may reduce these effects. You should not quickly lower your Stalevo dose or suddenly stop it altogether. Drugs broken down by the COMT enzyme (e.g., isoproterenol, epinephrine) should be used with caution when taking Stalevo. If you take a nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, you should not take Stalevo. Stalevo should not be taken with selegiline at doses higher than 10 mg/day. Because Stalevo contains entacapone, it should not be taken together with Comtan. Be careful using Stalevo if you have severe heart or lung disease; asthma; renal, hepatic or endocrine disease; or a history of heart attacks or ulcers. Do not take Stalevo if you have glaucoma, melanoma or other related medical disorders. Before you take Stalevo, talk to your doctor about any health problems you might have.

PlayStation 3 and also Its Technically Advanced Controllers

PlayStation 3 and Its Highly Advanced Controllers

It is a fact that having fun with video game consoles is far more enjoyable than playing the same video games on your COMPUTER. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that the video games fill much faster on gaming consoles, or perhaps due to the fact that the reason playing video games on game gaming consoles is a lot more enjoyable than playing it on your PC is due to the controller.

No matter what your factor is, playing games on pc gaming consoles is most definitely a different experience compared to playing it on your PC. First of all, game consoles are created to function primarily to play your favored video game console games. This makes the video games quicker to lots than on your conventional PC, because your COMPUTER has a great deal of processes and also programs that it has to run in order for it to operate properly.

In video gaming consoles, the cpu largely refines the correct performance of the video game itself. It doesn’t have to stress over the different programs installed like on your conventional COMPUTER.

An additional reason that playing games on video gaming consoles are much extra enjoyable is due to the fact that of the controllers. Pc gaming console controllers like those of PlayStation 3 video game controllers are developed to work for the video games itself. Unlike on PC, you still have to purchase a joystick or a video game controller in order for the game to be much more pleasurable to have fun with. If you do not purchase a video game controller or joystick for your PC, you will be forced to make use of the keyboard which is too huge and also bothersome.

PlayStation 3 game controllers are tiny in size and also it has an easy to hold function that enables your hand to conveniently take care of the game console controller.

To start with, the PlayStation 3 is one of the most fervently anticipated video game console this year. This video game console will certainly be formally launched on November 2006 Japan, USA as well as Canada and also on March 2007 on Europe and Australasia. The PlayStation 3 has many features that could benefit gamers. It is incorporated with a very powerful 3.2 Ghz CPU and also is also incorporated with a separate and really effective graphics cpu unit or GPU.

The new PlayStation 3 controller will certainly permit you to have an extra pleasurable experience when you have fun with PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and also PlayStation 3 video games. Although the controllers look really just like those of the previous PlayStation 2 controllers, it provides a lot more advantages for the gamer.

With Bluetooth capacity, PlayStation 3 controllers are cordless. Bluetooth allows you to have fun with PlayStation 3 with optimum convenience since you will not be restricted to one location any longer. There will be no cables to restrict you from going as away from the TV as the Bluetooth variety will certainly enable. For instance, if you established your PlayStation 3 in your bedroom, you could now play with your favored PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 video games also if you rest on your bed, which can be also away from the PlayStation 3 game console if it has actually wired controllers.

One more wonderful thing concerning PlayStation 3 video game controllers is that it is incorporated with the multi-axis movement sensing system. This PlayStation 3 game controller attribute will permit you to interact much more with the game. The controllers will certainly not just be a medium for you to manage the characters on display however it will serve as an all-natural expansion of your body with high precision as well as all in real time.

PlayStation 3 will additionally be able to support approximately 7 controllers through the Bluetooth technology incorporated in the PlayStation 3 as well as PlayStation 3 controllers.

With PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 3 game controllers, you will have the ability to make best use of enjoyable and comfort while you play with your favorite PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 video games.

Make Mobile Marketing Work With Your Business (2)

Make Mobile Marketing Work With Your Business

Mobile marketing can be a very fascinating thing to get into. It has so many ways that it can be customized for each business that the possibilities are nearly endless. This can make it a challenge for a newcomer who doesn’t have a clue where to begin. This list of tips can prepare you for the challenge.

Be a leader in mobile marketing, not a follower. Mobile marketing is still the wild, wild west when it comes to innovation and creativity. There are a lot of options available on the market to consider, but don’t only go with what’s out there. Look at your audience and strategize on new ways to reach them via mobile. You may come up with a successful mobile messaging alternative at a fraction of the price of a paid service!

As an internet marketer in general, you need to understand one point about the business: Mobile marketing isn’t just an option, it’s actually a necessity. Mobile aps have experienced over 200% growth in recent years, making this industry one of the fastest-growing on the planet in the past few decades. You need to consider going mobile if you haven’t gone already.

Avoid anything in mobile marketing that seems too easy. If it seems like it may be really easy to implement, you can be sure that something’s wrong with it. Of course, we’re talking about mobile-specific things here, like apps and formatted sites. A lot of ads and email techniques are universal, so don’t fret on that front.

Compared to general Internet marketing, mobile marketing must be short and specific. For example, when targeting users on desktops, it is fine to use a banner ad that points to the main page of your web based store. However, on a mobile ad, even if you manage to get users to visit your website, the vast majority of visitors will not spend time browsing your website. It is far more effective to choose a specific product, and use a concise message that links them directly to a purchase page.

Avoid sending mobile messages on holidays and weekends if you can help it. Although you have access to people’s cell phone numbers, be very careful about when you use it if you want them to respond favorably. Sending business messages on holidays is widely seen as inappropriate, so don’t do it.

Although slow to the start, mobile marketing is a great way to bring customers to your products. So do not panic. It just takes a little while longer to gain the trust of an on-the-go user since they don’t typically follow links all day long.

Your mobile campaign should be linked to the core of your marketing strategy. Using mobile devices is a great way to get some attention, but you should encourage people to report their attention on your main strategies. This means you should do your best to get them to visit your website if this is the main tool you use.

Mobile marketing is indeed a thing of great variety with so many strategies and plans. That is both its gift and its curse. It’s a gift because it has many options that are customizable and it’s a curse because too many options make it difficult to decide. These tips should have made it a bit easier for you.