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Parkinson's Disease Linked to Pesticides
A new study conducted in Europe shows that the risk of Parkinson’s disease and other similar parkinsonian syndromes is significantly higher in individuals who have been exposed to pesticides. Furthermore, this increased risk is related to the level of exposure to pesticide. The results of the study were published online in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
While many think of pesticides as chemicals which kill insects, pesticides also include agents which control weeds, mildew, germs, rodents, and more. Insecticides kill insects. Herbicides kill weeds. Rodenticides kill rodents, and so on. Even many household products contain pesticides. Each year, two and a half million tons of industrial pesticides are used around the world to kill or suppress a variety of organisms.
Ways to decrease your exposure to pesticides:
1. Make sure you wash your food with clean water before cooking or eating it.
2. Certain fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of pesticides in the peel, so if you do not purchase your fruits and vegetables from an organic market, consider peeling them.
3. Trim the fat away from the meat.
4. Cook your food thoroughly. Some pesticide residues decrease when exposed to elevated temperatures.
5. Try to avoid using manmade chemicals around your home, such as fertilizers and food additives.
Parkinson’s disease is a serious condition in which some of the brain cells stop working appropriately. This malfunction ultimately causes people to lose their ability to control their muscle movements.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:
1. Tremors or shaking in one or both hands. This shaking is particularly prominent at rest. The tremor of Parkinson’s disease is often called a “pill rolling tremor” because it appears as if the affected person is attempting to roll a pill between her fingers.
2. Rigidity is another common symptom of Parkinson’s disease. Muscle groups become stiff and seem as if they occasionally freeze.
3. Slow movements are a very common sign of this disease as well. Patients often have difficulty initiating the task of walking.
4. Drooling may occur, as can difficulty swallowing.
5. The facial expression is often considered “masked” because the normal facial expression appears to be lost.
6. Difficulty speaking may occur.
7. Other symptoms may include easy fatigability, aches and pains, swelling of the feet and ankles, frequent or urgent urination, and constipation.
How is Parkinson’s disease treated?
There are several medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease. In severe cases, surgery may be beneficial. Occupational therapy is also helpful for some.
To watch an online video about toxins and our environment by Dr. Becky Natragan, go to http://healthywealthyandwise.isagenix.com.
Content copyright © 2013 by A. Maria Hester, M.D.. All rights reserved.
This content was written by A. Maria Hester, M.D.. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact A. Maria Hester, M.D. for details.
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