Dyskinesia is the uncontrollable, abnormal, involuntary movements of the limbs of the body. It occurs due to injuries in the brain, or prolonged use of drugs of Parkinson’s disease. The effects are varied in this type of disease. It can affect one of the limbs or the entire body. Dyskinesia can range from mild to severe aching, and restrict normal daily activities. Treating this disease usually involves medications and healthy lifestyle tips for dyskinesia.
1. Symptoms of dyskinesia
The signs and symptoms of this disease vary from person to person. The symptoms can be mild to severe, depending on the severity of the disease. The disease causes many difficulties related to normal movement. However, this disease isn’t related to the tremors of Parkinson’s disease. Some of the symptoms are controllable by maintaining some beneficial lifestyle tips for dyskinesia.
The symptoms include:
- Wriggling
- Swaying of the body
- Fidgeting
- Twitching
- Bobbing of the head
- Restlessness
2. Causes of dyskinesia
Levodopa is a medication used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. However, the prolonged use of this medicine can cause dyskinesia. The medication increases the dopamine level in the brain. The increase in the level of dopamine causes the uncontrolled movements of dyskinesia. Another type of dyskinesia is tardive dyskinesia, which is a side effect of some antipsychotic medications.
3. Beneficial lifestyle tips for dyskinesia
A change in lifestyle can help to control the effects of this disease in many people. The doctor can prescribe some beneficial lifestyle tips for dyskinesia, along with the appropriate medications. One can also design their own healthy habits to control the progression of this disease within the body.
The following lifestyle tips for dyskinesia can guide you to formulate their own habits:
- Consult the doctor for the right medication
If levodopa is the main cause of this condition, then you should consult the doctor for a substitute medicine or an associative one to control the ill-effects of this medicine.
- Change the medication timing
Sometimes, the effects of a few medicines cause dyskinesia. So, one can refer to their doctor for changing the timing or dosage of the medications to treat their after-effects.
- Deep brain stimulation
Surgeries governing deep brain stimulation may be effective in controlling the effects of the disease.
- Support group meetings
It is often beneficial to meet people diagnosed with the same disease and hear their stories. This can provide patients with mental and emotional support to fight the effects of the disease.
- Rest and relax
Another important tip is to provide an ample amount of rest to the body and the limbs. Stress and fatigue can make this condition worse.
- Nutritional tips
A high-protein diet, along with certain medications, can worsen the condition of the body. So, one can opt for a low-protein diet as that would help the person recover quickly from dyskinesia. A diet rich in carbohydrates can help the body to absorb the nutrients well and also treat the after-effects of medicines.
This condition worsens if proper treatments are not given at the appropriate time. Lifestyle tips for dyskinesia also include the incorporation of physiotherapy and effective exercises. Proper exercise can help increase mobility.
