The Pain Of Animals essays

The Pain Of Animals essays The Pain of Animals is an excellent article written by David Suzuki, which among other issues focuses on and raises questions about the pain animals feel and suffer for the benefit of human scientific research. Other views discussed are Davids personal David talks about an experience he had growing up as a young boy hunting game in the wild with his BB gun and eventually, as a teenager moving up to a 22-caliber rifle. He saw an advertisement for a slingshot and decided to order it. After weeks of practice he felt ready to hunt live game with his new weapon and skills. He came across a squirrel, which as he puts it, was doing whatever squirrels do and began to pursue his prey. After cornering his hunt in a tree the squirrel began crying and sobbing. The sound of the squirrel being scared to death had such a strong effect on young David that he Fishing was the only form of animal catching David continued to perform. David had never fished for sport, nor did he believe in it. For David fishing for consumption was the only form of fishing he involved himself in, with the exception of one occasion, while taping a television report on the science of fly fishing. During the taping he was required to catch the fish and release them all back into the water. The sight of the markings on the mouths of the fish was so disturbing to him that he never considered the While spending a weekend on the Queen Charlotte Islands, David had the opportunity to watch grey whales from up close. Observing the whales in the wild was nothing like hed seen in the Vancouver Public Aquarium. No matter how large the aquarium, it could never compare to the freedom and happiness their relatives had in their David raises an excellent point when he discusses that ...

hour

7 Online and Flexible Jobs For College Students That Pay $15/hour It can be really difficult to hold down a job and go to school full-time all at the same time. To make it work, you often need a job with a bit more flexibility. That’s where online jobs come in handy- they’re versatile and the hours can usually fit in around your schoolwork schedule. Also, if you need some solitude after days of classes and socializing, most of these are done all by your lonesome- the perfect gig for introverts! And bonus: Â  plenty of them pay more than $15 per hour. Pretty good setup for something you can do in your pajamas, right?Here are a few great examples of online jobs for college students.1. Social Media ManagerThink Facebook and Twitter are just for sociability and fun? Why not use the skills you were given as a member of your generation to make some cash as a rep for a company looking to gain some online traction?You can connect with businesses you love, help them gain a social media following, and make anywhere between $15 and $40 per hour . The trick is to focus your pitch and strategy on the platforms you know and love best. You’ll have the best ideas and be more attractive as a hire.2. Online TutorWhy bother meeting your tutees in person? Start your own online tutoring gig, charging $20+ per hour working with fellow college students, or high school or home schooled students. Consider tutoring in non-academic areas as well- any of your hobbies and extracurriculars are fair game! Violin or sewing by Skype, anyone? Try marketing your services on sites like Wyzant or Tutor.com. Share an online course you create through Skillshare or Udemy.3. Data EntryData entry doesn’t have to be done in an office setting from 9-5; it can easily be done online. For gigs, try sites like VirtualBee, Clickworker, DionData, SolutionsoDesk, Elance, Amazon Mechanical Turk, iFreelance, Craigslist (search for your city jobs web / info design or jobsadmin/office). The pay isn’t all that great, but you also don’t n eed much experience to get a bunch of gigs to string together.4. Virtual AssistantBe somebody’s secretary, but never have to hand them a cup of coffee! You can easily organize schedules, plan meetings, and arrange for food delivery without having to physically be in someone’s office. Check these sites for opportunities: oDesk, Elance, Guru, iFreelance, and Craigslist. This will feel more like a traditional 9-5 job, but you can be at home while you do it, and you can usually work in your own hours.5. Filling Out SurveysYou can actually make money by taking surveys online. You’ll have to do a lot of them, but it’s totally possible. Try Pinecone Research, Survey Spot, iPoll, or My Points as a start. And remember you’ll have to fit the appropriate demographic for each survey and there’ll be many different types.6. GenealogistGet paid to research other people’s family trees and charge a ton- anywhere between $70 and $700, and take on as li ttle or as much work as you can handle. If you like to research, this gig is for you.7. TranscriptionGet paid up to $25 per hour or more to transcribe audio. It’s repetitive work, and often very onerous, and requires a meticulous attention to detail- but it fits great around your academic schedule. And what’s more, you’ll probably learn a bunch about the random topics you’re transcribing. It’s like getting paid to eavesdrop!

Dejouanys Strategy over CGE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Dejouanys Strategy over CGE - Essay Example Dejouany’s management style was not so highly decentralized that it allowed decision making at lower levels. Rather it follows the multidivisional structure, where the division of labor is created between the top managers and division managers, such that it is the division managers who focus on the operational details of the functional departments, while the top managers are able to concentrate on strategic decisions and long-range planning.(Vivendi).Dejouany selected quality people who were well versed in the developing opportunities in a particular area of business, investing cash into those cash-strapped businesses in order that the Company could benefit overall from the potentials inherent in those markets. Â  In pursuing his goals of diversification of CGE from a primarily water-based business into a diversified entity which dealt with real estate and health care among other businesses, Dejouany followed the internal capital market model of diversification. The diversification of CGI was undertaken in order to make use of the internal capital market. Since CGE was a cash-rich business, with vast cash resources accruing from its monopoly in the water business, it was able to enter into the various type of agreements with cash-strapped businesses for mutual benefit. One kind of agreement the Company entered into were agreements where it did not have to invest cash but merely managed the assets of municipalities’ water supplies.

Spaces and Subjects of Modernity Modern Cities, Entertainment and Las Essay

Spaces and Subjects of Modernity Modern Cities, Entertainment and Las Vegas - Essay Example (Buchholz et al, 2002). An in-depth understanding of the above can, it is argued, lead to avoidance of the deficits or malaise (this seems so normal in the dystopian scheme), of the modern world. This essay deals with the reconstruction of the modern city as Las Vegas, within the limitations of cultural space to highlight the role of authoritative control and also its absence in promoting a liberal society. The role of exhibitions and cinema and how this relates to the changes in the entertainment and gambling industry in Las Vegas will be defined. In ancient civilizations like the Mesopotamian, the 'juridico-discursive' power is entirely at the hands of a 'sovereign authority who exercised absolute control over the population through the threat or open display of violence' (Foucault, 1978). Surveillance, becomes an important tool of the state is but, a sort of mapping of contours, geographies, and finally human beings too. Modern states also used such "thematic mapping technologies", a notable one, being "the cadastral map, which record land ownership and resource characteristics" (Goss, Jon. 1995). Constant surveillance which, when internalized, as in "disciplining the body, takes hold of the mind as well to induce a psychological state of 'conscious and permanent visibility" (Foucault 1977). It then becomes a disciplinary power that is used directly on the body, and collectively, to control social groups. Foucault speaks of the structured ways of knowing and exercising this power, in respect of Body, Power and the Sexuality ; Subjectivity, identity and resistance; and Freedom, power and Politics.( Armstrong,2005). The Relevance of Psycho-geography in Modern Geography Psycho-geography is defined as "The study of specific effects of the geographical environment, consciously organised or not, on the emotions and behaviour of individuals"(Situationniste Internationale, 1958). It was first developed by the 'Lettrist International,' as part of their system of unitary urbanism. It has since evolved to encompass many things; "psycho geography is one antithetical pole among many which realizes the conflict between our idealized role as citizens and our subjectivity arising from the material conditions of our life"(Psycho geography, 2005). The Modern Metropolis The development of culture is characterized by the preoccupation the "objective spirit" over the "subjective spirit. The objective culture is defined as the collection of rules, tools, symbols and products created by human beings and the subjective culture is what individuals have been able to absorb and integrate into them-selves from the objective culture. Metropolitan life places the utmost importance to stable but impersonal time schedule. There seems to be in the metropolitan style, direct dissociation in reality, in one of its elemental forms which is socialization (Simmel, 1908). A link has been conceived between the new social and environmental conditions of the metropolis and psychological state of continuity. It has strong connotations to the destruction and re-construction of modern cities (like Paris, Berlin etc,) as dictated by the changes in mobility,

Reflective Analysis Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reflective Analysis Assignment - Essay Example The piece is also academic based on the fact that it makes reference to works done by other researchers in the same discipline. Another strong point of the formal essay (iii) is that it contains paragraphs that present the ideas of the essay in a logical manner. This is contrary to many essays written extemporaneously that mainly do not have a logical flow of ideas. The same structure is demonstrated by the formal essay (i) on â€Å"Learned Habit.† Nevertheless, the formal essay (i) contains large paragraphs that seem to express a mix of ideas. For instance, in the second part of the formal essay (i), the purpose of the essay and the negative impacts of smoking have been integrated in the same paragraph (formal essay i). Such an integration of ideas could be avoided by the use of an extemporaneous work that enhances the initial development of ideas. Considering the extemporaneous informal writing (i), the paper is written in a single paragraph that has a repetition of ideas, lacks a thesis statement, and lacks a logical flow of ideas. The work could be improved by ensuring that every idea has its logical significance by being presented as a paragraph. The informal writing (ii) starts with hanging ideas that do not have either an introduction or a conclusion. It appears like an excerpt from another essay that is incomplete. It was better if the essay was developed in point form since the length is like an outline of a better version of the paper to be developed later (informal writing ii). One of the best essays developed so far is the formal writing (ii). Although the writing does not have an introductory statement and a conclusion, it presents ideas in a logical manner and separates ideas based on their importance in the writing. Nevertheless, the informal writing (ii) does not recognize the ideas of other authors from which the essay is developed. Overall, the extemporaneous formal

Factors Affecting Mortality Rates and Medical Care Provision

Factors Affecting Mortality Rates and Medical Care Provision KWAKU ANYIMADU TOPIC: The factors that affect mortality rate and the provision of medical care, laying emphasis on how a reduction in mortality rate ensures provision of quality health care ABSTRACT The nation Ghana, like many African countries, agreed to the millennium development goal derived from the 2000 UN Millennium Declaration and has, in fact, made giant steps towards achieving a number of them. Efforts have been made in the field of education and poverty but much more work is to be done in areas relating to health. Infant, child and maternal mortality has increased over the year despite the rapid increase in knowledge and technology. The average number of resources available in the country for the betterment of the health sector is relatively low compared to that of the European countries. Less effort has been put in place in an attempt to salvage the situation. The number of infrastructure available to provide health care services is beyond minimal, the human resource is comparably low , and moderate attention is given to areas relating to public health and also quality healthcare delivery. Most economies including the highly developed nations have tried various ways to formulate policies which will benefit all citizens. All these intervention is done so as to try reduce the incidence of high mortality rate. This should be taken seriously so as to provide a strong and healthy population which will take part in productivity and also increase life expectancy. INTRODUCTION According to Karl Evang M.D, medical care is the term given to the medical attendance provided to patients by general practitioners and practicing specialists in hospitals with outpatient departments, laboratory services for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, maternity care, provision of drugs, physical therapy, prostheses, transportation.1 This care provided to patients by mostly doctors and nurses ensures quality of health service provision and reduces mortality rate. This care an aspect of general health care is provided by especially doctors in their service. Other auxiliary health care provider’s optometrist, laboratory technician etc. all has a quota to contribute to the overall health care provision. This health care system can be grouped into primary system, which is the first point of consultation for patient, secondary which involves employing the services of specialists such as urologist and cardiologist and Tertiary which involves specialized consultative health system. There is the last group; the quaternary system which is often used in advance the levels of medicine. All these groups of medical care work toward improving the quality of medical care and reducing the rate of mortality. Mortality rate has been on the increase over the past decade, because of a setback in the provision of quality medical care. This set back is due to negligence on the part of health care providers, administrators and shareholders of health care which include the government and also citizens. Mortality rate, many African countries will pay less attention to is the index that defines the average number of death within a defined time frame and also population.This index is only possible by the existence of certain factors, which contribute to ensuring reduction in mortality rate. Mortality rate is contributed to child mortality rate, access to health care facilities, maternal death rate and low birth rate, death due to tuberculosis, death due to HIV, availability of sustainable drinking of water. Another factor which affects mortality rate, especially in Ghana, is the occurrence of diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, kidney disea ses and diabetes. Also mortality rate is also affected by environmental factors and genetic changes in a newly formed baby. If not detected early the child dies at a very tender age. Due to the importance of quality health care provision much effort is being put in place to reduce mortality rate. Many counties, including the Europeans, from the latter part of the 19th century continue to experiment various ways in order to come out with a life changing health care policy all in an attempt to reduce mortality rate. Many different health care policies have been put in place to regulate the financial aspect of health care provision, legal aspect of health care provision, special treatment to target groups such as mothers attending pre-natal and post-natal heath care services, payment of healthcare practitioners, making health care institutions easily accessible, upgrading the material and human resources, ensuring security of patient data and for easy communication between healthcare providers. In Ghana, the mortality rate in the year 2012 was 7.7 for any 1000 deaths with a life expectancy of 55.2if proper health care provisions are sought for the mortality rate may further reduce and the life expectancy moved further. Other countries such as Bulgaria have the highest record of mortality rate in the Europe.3 Because of the importance associated with keeping a low mortality rate, which also indirectly affects providing quality medical care, this essay seeks to discuss the factors that affect mortality rate and the provision of medical care, laying emphasis on how a reduction in mortality rate ensures provision of quality health care? Also, at the end discussion, I would have identified the problems that prevent the above mentioned goals from being achieved and suggest ways in which the millennium development goal concerning health can be realized. BODY Factors that affect good medical care Quality medical care is of great importance to ensure safety of people who decide to seek proper medical care. For this reason many countries as part of their total budget for the year inculcate in it an appreciable amount of money which is to be used in the health sector. Right from the 19th century, after the Second World War, many countries including the undeveloped countries try to formulate various policies to provide quality health care to its citizens. Taking Ghana for example, under the leadership of Jerry John Rawlings, the cash and carry system (1990) was introduced to replace the fee for service system(1985). This system, however, was later abolished due to problems associated with it. By 1990 clinical attendance had dropped markedly to about 25% because of the inconsistent in pricing of prescriptions and over prescription.7this scheme was later on replaced by the national health insurance. In other nations, other policy programs were implemented such as the sickness insur ance policy which was first initiated in Eastern Europe but was later abolished and also the Obama healthcare Bill. In Africa, specifically Ghana,the National Health Insurance Scheme was implemented to regulate the financing of healthcare. These policies are to ensure that equal health service is provided to both the rich and the poor and if considered which must seriousness can have a huge impact in quality medical care.Also target groups within the society have been provided with special healthcare packages. Various companies decide to cater for the charges of acquisition of health care for their staff. In Ghana, maternal mothers have been provided with the ability to acquire and enjoy pre-natal care and post-natal care all in an attempt to ensure quality medical care. The work of practitioners is regulated because of illegal practice and also controls negligence amongst doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers. The lives of people rest in the hands of these practitioners hence their activity should be religiously regulated. For this to happen various countries have enacted laws that regulate practice even in the private sectors. The mental health bill, the abortion law and the also the Hippocratic oaths are all a set of rules and regulation, governing the practice of medicine. Doctors are required to recite the rules outlined and also allowing these bills and oaths guide our practice. All these bills and laws are being formulated to ensure quality of healthcare by regulating their practice. Also other laws are to make practitioners comfortable enough to perform their duties.This comfort gives them the motivation to pour their heart out in their practice in an attempt to reduce mortality rate. In another aspect of healthcare provision, the subject has been expanded to various fields such as public health and community nurses. Healthcare provision does not rely on just the providers but those receiving this care have a role to play in order to synergistically ensure quality healthcare. These people have a special role to play in this system since they go as far as the rural areas, educating them on the need to keep a safe environment and ensure long and quality lives. In the Acheson’s report, public health is the science and the art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through organized effort of the society.9-12Based on this, we can say that public health helps practitioners to understand the causes of certain diseases due to community lifestyle and culture. Continues education to the less deprived areas reduces the incidence of mortality rate. Also ensuring quality medical care in an attempt to reduce mortality rate is also possible if there is the availability of various healthcare institutions, equipment and also adequate human resource. Ghana has failed to reach the millennium development goal, although the government has been able to deal with poverty, hunger and also education to some aspect. Outside the cities the average number of people per healthcare infrastructure is not acceptable. Our equipment’s have been concentrated in just the cities but it should be extended to the rural areas also. A typical example which shows the regional distribution of hospitals in the upper west region of Ghana usingin 10 different towns is tabulated below. Health Facilities – Upper West Region SOURCE:http://www.ghanahealthservice.org/upperwestregion If the millennium development goal is to be achieved in ensuring quality healthcare, healthcare institutions should be easily accessible in such deprived areas. When made easily accessible, number of avoidable deaths decreases and the overall mortality rate reduces. As effort is being made to improve healthcare infrastructure another area to be considered is increasing the human resource available in the healthcare system. Many modern medical facilities exist in Ghana, but these are not evenly distributed across the country. Ministry of Health figures for 1990 showed that there were 18,477 beds for the estimated national population of 15 million. According to the World Bank figures, in 1965 the doctor-patient ratio was one to every 13,740 patients in Ghana. The ratio increased to one to 20,460 in 1989. In neighboring Togo, the doctor-to-patient ratio of one to 23,240 in 1965 improved to one to 8,700 in 1989; it was one to 29,530 in 1965 and one to 6,160 in 1989 for Nigeria, whereas i n Burkina, the ratio of one to 73,960 in 1965 worsened to one to 265,250 in 1989. These figures show that while the doctor-patient ratio in Ghana gradually became less favorable, the ratio in neighboring countries, with the exception of Burkina, was rapidly improving. This calls for an immediate look in this area to help reach the standard we want to achieve. 13Having highlighted on some areas which needs to be looked at in an attempt to providing quality medical care, we will turn our focus to how mortality rate has been on the rise due to failure in providing good healthcare. Mortality rate and relationship with medical care Mortality rate is less considered in the African diaspora. The World Health Organization (WHO) in reference to Checchi and Roberts (2005) defines mortality rate as the number of deaths occurring in a given population at risk during a specified time period. This period is also known as the recall period). In special emergencies, the number of deaths is expressed as 10000 persons in a day or deaths per 1000 persons in a month or year. 14Ghana focuses mostly on the first and second millennium goal relating to poverty, hunger and education. But others relating to health have been sidelined which include infant mortality rate and maternal mortality- in fact circumstances for expecting mothers have worsened toward the end of the past decade. Even in the 21st century where technology has risen to higher levels most Africans still die to Malaria, HIV/AIDs and other deaths caused by diseases. All these deaths which are avoidable come about due to the poor quality of medical care provided to citizens and also negligence in the part of the healthcare practitioners.In 2010 it was recorded by the World Bank that out of a 1000 live births in Ghana 50 dies. However in countries such as Portugal and the Republic of Czech the infant mortality rate recorded is 5 deaths per 1000 live birth.15 This rates confirms the work that needs to be done. As mortality rate is increasing in Africa that of Europe and other developed nations is decreasing with an increase in life expectancy. If quality of healthcare is provided, mortality rate can be reduced and also safety and trust in the part of patients is assured. Also,an extension in the life expectancy age and an improvement in productivity is assured if this sector is paid much attention. The result is reflected in the decline in infant mortality from 120 per 1,000 live births in 1965 to 86 per 1,000 live births in 1989, and a rate of overall life expectancy that increased from an average of forty-four years in 1970 to fifty-six years in 1993.16 It is easier said when it comes to the ways in which quality health care and a reduction in mortality rate can be provided but difficult to implement. In most cases the reasons why these policies fail to be implemented is due to political reasons.Each government in Ghana fails to meet this goal set because of different political differences. Every new government which comes has a different way to improve the healthcare system and at the long run inconsistency results in failure. Also poverty and hunger is another reason why this happens. The financial quota pushed into the health care system is not encouraging due to the poor economic status of the country. Lastly another reason is the old fashioned mentally of Ghanaians due to their illiteracy level results in failure to achieve this goal. CONCLUSION Africa, unlike the Europeans has suffered a major setback in their progress in development. In other sectors, other health, the level of damage due to this state of underdevelopment is not that much. The most vibrant of the population die premature when there is a solution to those reasons. To be able to achieve the millennium development goal, effort to improve the health sector must be hastened so that quality medical care is enhanced. REFERENCES Evang, Karl Medical Care in Europe. American Journal of Public Health1958 April; 48(4):427-433. http://www.indexmundi.com/ghana/demographics_profile.html http://bg-daily-news.eu/politics/4866-eurostat-bulgaria-has-the-highest-mortality-rate. United Nations (U.N.), Mortality of Children Under Age 5: World Estimates and Projections, 1950-2025 (U.N., New York, 1988), p. 22. Kenneth Hill and Anne R. Pebley, Child Mortality in the Developing World, Population and Development Review, Vol. 15, No. 4 (December 1989), p. 680. R.R. Puffer and C. Serrano, Patterns of Mortality in Childhood, Scientific Publication No. 262, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Washington, D.C., 1973, cited in Health Conditions in the Americas: 1990 Edition, Vol. 1, Scientific Publication No. 524 (PAHO, Washington, D.C., 1990), Note 17, p. 116. Biritwum, R. B. (1994). The cost of sustaining the Ghanas cash and carry system of health care financing at a rural health centre. West African Journal of Medicine, 13(2), 124-127. Caper P. The epidemiologic surveillance of medical care. Am J Public Health. 1987 Jun;77(6):669–670. Charlton JR, Hartley RM, Silver R, Holland WW. Geographical variation in mortality from conditions amenable to medical intervention in England and Wales. Lancet. 1983 Mar 26;1(8326 Pt 1):691–696. Berwick DM. Continuous improvement as an ideal in health care. N Engl J Med. 1989 Jan 5;320(1):53–56. Peckham M. Research and development for the National Health Service. Lancet. 1991 Aug 10;338(8763):367–371. http://www.internations.org/ghana-expats/guide/living-in-ghana-15779/health-issues-and-healthcare-in-ghana-2 http://www.mongabay.com/history/ghana/ghana-health_care.html http://www.mongabay.com/history/ghana/ghanahealth_care.html#w0Milzf1TIElW2Bw.9 www.who.int. Oecd-ilibrary.org countrystudies.us/Ghana/55.htm Berendes S, Heywood P, Oliver S, Garner P. Quality of private and public ambulatory health care in low and middle income countries: systematic review of comparative studies. PLoS Med. 2011;8:e1000433. doi: Stuckler D, Basu S. The International Monetary Funds effects on global health: before and after the 2008 financial crisis. Int J Health Serv. 2009;39:771–781.

Parkinsons Disease Essay -- Medical Medical Medicine Essays Treatment

Parkinson's Disease Parkinson’s Disease (PD), "the shaking palsy" first described by James Parkinson in 1817, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder which affects in upwards of 1.5 million Americans. The disease begins to occur around age 40 and has incidence with patient age. One survey found that PD may affect 1% of the population over 60. Incidence seems to be more prominent in men, and tends to progress to incapacity and death over one or two decades. Clinical diagnosis of PD is currently solely dependent on the presentation of the symptoms by the patient which reflect a deficiency of striatal dopamine caused by the destruction of the cells in the substantia nigra. Imaging and other laboratory techniques can be used to rule out other disorders, but are not necessary for the actual diagnosis of PD. The first sign of PA is usually bradykinesia. Movements are usually quite slow. Routine activities may require deliberate planning and thought for execution. Difficulty initiating movements or akinesia, may also be present. Rigidity in the flexors is also present. This is due to an exaggerated response to normal proprioceptive return from the somatic musculature. A resting tremor of 3-6 Hz is also a prominent feature of PD. This may cause difficulties in handwriting as a symptom. Impaired postural reflexes is also a presenting feature in PD. Patients can easily lose their balance when pushed slightly, and may need to be caught to keep fr om falling. These signs can be tested by observing the patients walking, getting out of deep chairs, and performing rapid repetitive movements. Increased disturbances in cognitive abilities can also show evidence of PD. Even with all these signs of PD, it may be present and undiagnosed f... ...ly researched today. Hopefully, the disease will soon be able to be diagnosed early enough that its progression can be stopped and be cured. With current research and development, this day may soon come. Works Cited: Jenner, P. Clues to the mechanism underlying dopamine cell death -in Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neurology’ Neurosurqerv, and Psychiatry (1989): 22-28. Korczyr., A. D. Autonomic Nervous System Disturbances in Parkinson’s Disease. Advances in Neurology, 53 (1990): 463-68. Kingston, J. W. Current theories on the cause of Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psvchiatry, (l989): 13-17. Langston, J. W. and W. C. Koller. The next frontier: Presymptomatic detection. Geriatrics, Aug. 1991: 5-7. Paulson, G. W. Management of the patient with newly -diagnosed Parkinson’s disease. Geriatrics, Feb. 1993: 30-40. Parkinson's Disease Essay -- Medical Medical Medicine Essays Treatment Parkinson's Disease Parkinson’s Disease (PD), "the shaking palsy" first described by James Parkinson in 1817, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder which affects in upwards of 1.5 million Americans. The disease begins to occur around age 40 and has incidence with patient age. One survey found that PD may affect 1% of the population over 60. Incidence seems to be more prominent in men, and tends to progress to incapacity and death over one or two decades. Clinical diagnosis of PD is currently solely dependent on the presentation of the symptoms by the patient which reflect a deficiency of striatal dopamine caused by the destruction of the cells in the substantia nigra. Imaging and other laboratory techniques can be used to rule out other disorders, but are not necessary for the actual diagnosis of PD. The first sign of PA is usually bradykinesia. Movements are usually quite slow. Routine activities may require deliberate planning and thought for execution. Difficulty initiating movements or akinesia, may also be present. Rigidity in the flexors is also present. This is due to an exaggerated response to normal proprioceptive return from the somatic musculature. A resting tremor of 3-6 Hz is also a prominent feature of PD. This may cause difficulties in handwriting as a symptom. Impaired postural reflexes is also a presenting feature in PD. Patients can easily lose their balance when pushed slightly, and may need to be caught to keep fr om falling. These signs can be tested by observing the patients walking, getting out of deep chairs, and performing rapid repetitive movements. Increased disturbances in cognitive abilities can also show evidence of PD. Even with all these signs of PD, it may be present and undiagnosed f... ...ly researched today. Hopefully, the disease will soon be able to be diagnosed early enough that its progression can be stopped and be cured. With current research and development, this day may soon come. Works Cited: Jenner, P. Clues to the mechanism underlying dopamine cell death -in Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neurology’ Neurosurqerv, and Psychiatry (1989): 22-28. Korczyr., A. D. Autonomic Nervous System Disturbances in Parkinson’s Disease. Advances in Neurology, 53 (1990): 463-68. Kingston, J. W. Current theories on the cause of Parkinson’s disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psvchiatry, (l989): 13-17. Langston, J. W. and W. C. Koller. The next frontier: Presymptomatic detection. Geriatrics, Aug. 1991: 5-7. Paulson, G. W. Management of the patient with newly -diagnosed Parkinson’s disease. Geriatrics, Feb. 1993: 30-40.