Punch for Parkinson's | A Blog by Michelle Hespeler
As you have probably heard and read about, exercise is the best thing one can do to combat this disease. Parkinson’s is a neurological disease that cause many, many symptoms with the most visible being tremors and slowness of movement. Intense exercise is said to cause firing in the brain which then triggers the dopamine, neurons and cells to more efficiently do their job and make the muscles move. The more intense the exercise, the more often the exercise and the more muscles used for exercise, the more firing in the brain and the more improved results. The results being improved daily symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease. Before I continue, I would like to list for you the symptoms of PD:
- Breathing
- Memory loss
- Cognitive decline
- Anxiety
- Posture
- Vision
- Smell
- Drooling
- Arm swing
- Balance
- Digestion
- Constipation
- Tremors
- Slowness
- Rigidity
- Voice
- Freezing
- Mask
- Impulsive
- Depression
- Confusion
- Swallowing
- Shuffle
- Dental
- Gait
No wonder why one drug can’t fix all these things!! But, one thing can change how these symptoms affect a person with PD. Guess what? Exercise, exercise, exercise. Every presentation, every doctor, every article, every news show, every wellness fair, all say the same thing. So, why doesn’t every PWP (person with PD) exercise? The same answer as, “why don’t all people exercise?” Answer: It is hard work.
I would like to congratulate 300 clients of Beat Parkinson’s Today, Inc ( a non-profit exercise program specifically for PWPs) for dedicating themselves to fighting this disease by participating in Beat PD classes regularly. This program cost money and many PWPs are on fixed budgets and/or disability. This exercise is their medicine and insurance does not pay for Beat PD Today classes. To help subsidize these costs, Beat PD Today is hosting their 1st Annual Punch for Parkinson’s Jamboree! Teams will be formed to raise money to support them on Saturday, April 6th at the event in New Britain at the Hospital For Special Care Gym. The day will include mini exercise presentations by Trainers, Boxers, and Special Guests, along with Doctors speaking, Kids Obstacle Course and Face Painting, a Food Truck, Raffle Prizes and Vendors displaying their goods. It will be a fun day for the whole family and friends. Please see www.beatpdtoday.com for details on how you can join our team in raising money for this great cause. To begin fundraising now, Click Here! To download a flyer to give to friends, click here!
As we all know, Parkinson’s Disease has no cure and it afflicts 1 in 100 people over age 60 and we don’t even have good numbers for under age 60, but there are many people in their 40’s and 50’s with PD. My mission for myself and for all my friends in Beat PD and CAP is to stay healthy today until a cure is found. And the best way to do that is exercise! So please join us in any way you can with “Punch for Parkinson’s”. You can join a team, you can purchase a vendor table and sell your products, you can donate money, or you can volunteer to help on our committee. Please consider any of these options. Me and the 10,000 people with Parkinson’s in CT thank you for helping us fight the fight against PD.
Michelle Hespeler
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