Cass Regional Medical Center | Wellness Matters | Summer 2019

Wellness Matters | Summer 2019 7 Could you—or a loved one—have Parkinson’s disease and not know it? Quite possibly. Every year, some 50,000 Americans find out they have this progressive disorder that can affect the ability to walk, talk and do everyday activities. But often that diagnosis is delayed. A key reason: Its early symptoms are often so subtle and gradual that many people shrug them off. But if you know what to look for, it’s possible to find Parkinson’s in its beginning stages and get faster treatment. Here are 10 early red flags. 1 Slight shaking. Have you spotted a slight tremor in your finger, thumb, hand or chin when your hand or face is at rest? This is a common early warning sign. 2 Shrinking handwriting. Is your handwriting becoming smaller and cramped? This change in how you write may be a Parkinson’s symptom called micrographia. 3 Reduced sense of smell. Is it hard to smell certain foods well, such as bananas, dill pickles or licorice? If your nose isn’t stuffy from a cold or allergy, this might be a tipoff of Parkinson’s. 4 Difficulty sleeping. Do you thrash around when you sleep? Look for this and a tendency to act out dreams when you’re sleeping deeply. 5 Trouble moving. Do you feel stiff when you walk, as though you’re stuck to the floor? Watch for stiffness in your arms or legs. 6 Constipation. Do you repeatedly strain to move your bowels? If there’s no explanation, like a poor diet, this could be a red flag. 7 A fading voice. Is your voice getting very soft or low? Look for this—and a hoarse voice if you’re not sick. 8 An expressionless face. Have you been told that you have a blank, serious or mad look on your face even when you’re content? This might be something called facial masking, a frequent symptom of Parkinson’s. 9 Dizziness. Do you often feel dizzy when you stand up? This sign of low blood pressure is linked to Parkinson’s. 10 Slouching. Are you increasingly hunching over? This is also a possible red flag. No single symptom in this list is a cause for worry. But if you have more than one, tell your doctor. If you do have Parkinson’s, regular exercise can help delay symptoms. And the main treatment, the medicine carbidopa-levodopa, can help most people with Parkinson’s lead a normal life. Sources: National Institutes of Health; Parkinson’s Foundation ? Is it Parkinson’s disease Cass Regional welcomes new neurologist Cass Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce that neurologist Kenneth R. VanOwen, MD, of Research Neurology Associates, is now seeing patients on Fridays in the Rock Haven Medical Mall at 2820 E. Rock Haven Road, Suite 205, in Harrisonville. Dr. VanOwen is a graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and specializes in neurology and clinical neurophysiology. His fellowship training includes long-term EEG monitoring and vagus nerve stimulation programming, as well as experience with neuromuscular and epilepsy patients. Dr. VanOwen is board certified in neurology, sleep medicine and clinical neurophysiology. NEED TO COME IN ON FRIDAY? For more information or an appointment with Dr. VanOwen, please call 816-380-8081 .