According to the American Parkinson's Disease Association, approximately 60,000 people in the United States learn they have Parkinson's disease each year.

It is a degenerative disease caused by changes in the central nervous system that disrupt movement, balance, and other problems.

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, knowing these ten things may make dealing with it easier.

Here are ten things people who have had Parkinson's disease for several years wish they had been told when they were diagnosed, but their doctors didn't tell them.

1. The side effects of Parkinson’s treatment drugs may be more serious than the symptoms of the disease itself.

With Parkinson's disease, the synthesis of dopamine in the brain is reduced, affecting movement.

Taking Xinningmei or Rytary (both are compound preparations of mebidopa and levodopa) is the basic medication for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It is used to supplement dopamine and relieve typical symptoms of Parkinson's disease such as muscle stiffness and resting tremor.

Many patients use various medications to relieve the various symptoms that may occur.

Whenever your doctor prescribes a new drug, make sure you understand its possible side effects.

Marilyn Garateix, executive director of a Miami-based nonprofit and a freelance journalist who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age 42, says "the adverse effects of medications can be as severe as the symptoms of Parkinson's disease," because "

"Severe insomnia" was the adverse reaction, and she developed sleep disorders.

Garateix said that because she took more than one medication, it was difficult for her to pinpoint which one was responsible for her insomnia.

So Garateix asked the doctor to adjust the medication and learned some good sleeping habits to improve insomnia.

In addition to insomnia, patients taking carbidopa and levodopa may also experience adverse reactions such as convulsions or uncontrolled repetitive movements of arms, legs, face and other body parts.

A small number of patients may experience pain, urinary problems, and loss of appetite.

Dopamine agonists such as Pilonirole and Pramipexole also have potential side effects - compulsive behaviors such as gambling, excessive sexual desire, and excessive consumption.

Patients said that these adverse reactions should be reported to those taking the medicine in a timely manner.

2. Determining the optimal treatment plan may take some time.

Although the levodopa-carbidopa combination is the most commonly prescribed drug, many drugs that act on other mechanisms can also be used to treat Parkinson's disease, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Terri Reinhart, a 58-year-old retired kindergarten teacher who blogged about her "Parkinson's journey," said: "Finding an optimal treatment plan can take a while." Terri Reinhart was born in 2007

After being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, "the first five years were a bit dizzying for her." One of the medications she took caused breathing problems, and another caused severe insomnia.

However, with the help of her doctor, she finally found a medication combination that suited her.

The problem was solved, and patience was essential in the process—she knew it would take time to find a treatment plan that worked for her.

"It's important to understand the process," she said, adding that she would like to learn more about how the drug works.

3. Not all neurologists are good at treating Parkinson’s disease.

"Neurologists often encounter Parkinson's patients, but not all neurologists specialize in treating Parkinson's disease," said Bev Ribaudo.

Bev Ribaudo is 56 years old, a retiree in Arizona, USA. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 47.

She recommends that neurologists also consider developing expertise in movement disorders as well.

An expert in the treatment of movement disorders is a neurologist who is good not only in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, but also in the treatment of other movement disorders (including dystonia, chorea, muscle spasms, tremors, etc.).

Because these specialists tend to focus more on movement disorder disorders, they may be more familiar with the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and its treatments.

4. Exercise plays a vital role in maintaining quality of life.

"Many doctors don't tell their patients to exercise more," says Larry Kahn.

He is 55 years old and is a tax attorney in Atlanta. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's syndrome in the second half of 2010.

"I saw three doctors, and none of them told me that I should do high-intensity physical exercise," he said. Kahn joined a Parkinson's support group, where members suggested he do high-intensity exercise to improve his Parkinson's symptoms, which helped.

Huge effect.

He said: "I have increased my exercise intensity, and I feel that my mental state has improved to a great extent." He added that the combination of drug treatment and physical exercise has helped his condition to be better controlled.

5. It is very important to find a suitable Parkinson’s support group.

Garateix's doctor suggested she join a suitable support group.

She was only 42 when she was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and it took her some time to find a support group that suited her.