Triggering Factors in Parkinson’s Disease

Trigger factors that can worsen the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

Each patient with Parkinson’s disease has certain conditions, factors, or situations that can worsen their motor state.

The patient’s task in this case is to identify them (it is possible to foresee their occurrence in advance). Try to prevent or anticipate their occurrence. Or learn to respond correctly to each such situation if it happens.

Triggers (provoking factors) for the body (physical triggers) include:

• Excessive sugar consumption
• Too much or not enough exercise
• Lack of sleep
• Most somatic diseases, especially viral infections (ARVI), which directly affect my nervous system
• Prolonged waiting beyond my comfort level—drinking, eating, sleeping, having sex, or going to the bathroom—almost always causes akathisia (pathological restlessness). If the wait is too long, the symptoms intensify even more
• Uncomfortable ambient temperature, which drops below 0 or rises above 75 F (=23,8С).

Triggers for the mind (psychological) include:

• Anxiety and increased worry, not enough time for meditation
• Stress, anxiety, as well as excessive emotionality due to good or bad events
• Excessive sensory stimulation (especially loud sounds, bright lighting, crowds in busy places)
• Too much time at the computer or TV.
• Excessive zeal in achieving personal goals

Such constant self-awareness is simply necessary—because the condition can significantly worsen if the situation occurs during a “shutdown” or a bad day.

Self-management of your blood pressure can be quite challenging – because sooner or later, disruptions occur. Triggers arise constantly.  Unexpected events can always lead to a patient losing control over their condition.

Bless you!