Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive neurological condition affecting the brain. It is one of the more common neurological conditions, affecting around 1 in every 500 people in the UK. The number of people with Parkinson’s is increasing each year as the UK population ages. The Parkinson’s Team is currently aware of over 1700 people living with Parkinson’s in Coventry and Warwickshire, although statistically there may be more than this.
The symptoms of Parkinson's are caused, in part, by a reduced level of dopamine within the brain. Dopamine is a chemical used to transmit messages between brain cells. Brain cells within the region called the basal ganglia begin to deteriorate and levels of dopamine start to fall. When levels reach about 60% of normal, movement symptoms begin to develop. It is not yet known why the cells start to deteriorate.
Changes to other neuro-transmitter pathways in the brain may lead to additional (often non-motor) symptoms in Parkinson’s. As well as dopaminergic deficiency, symptoms may arise because of problems in the serotonergic, cholinergic and noradrenergic pathways.
Parkinson's should be diagnosed by a doctor with experience in Parkinson's, usually a neurologist or care of the elderly physician. It is diagnosed clinically, on the basis of finding the signs and symptoms of Parkinson's. If the diagnosis is not clear, investigations such as brain imaging might be used.
Parkinson’s causes both 'motor' and 'non-motor' symptoms. Motor (or movement) symptoms consist of:
Not all of these symptoms will affect people at diagnosis. For example, only 70% will have a tremor. Non-motor symptoms can include depression and anxiety, pain, fatigue, loss of sense of smell, sleep disturbance, bladder problems and constipation. However, everyone is different and how you are affected by the symptoms of Parkinson's compared to others will vary.
Parkinson's is slowly progressive. The symptoms change as the condition develops. Drug prescriptions and therapies also change to reflect this progression.
During all stages of Parkinson's Disease, people are regularly reviewed by the Parkinson's team with support, as needed, from the specialist nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and dieticians.
There are other conditions that have similar symptoms (ie Parkinsonism) to Parkinson's Disease but where the cause is different. There may be additional clinical features and/or disease progression is different. These disorders either do not respond at all or respond poorly to treatment with levodopa.
These other Parkinsonian conditions include: drug-induced Parkinsonism, Vascular Parkinsonism and the Atypical Parkinsonisms (Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Multiple System Atrophy and Corticobasal Degeneration). If any of these conditions are relevant to you, your Consultant will discuss this with you.
Updated 30 January 2018
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON BLOOD TESTING DUE TO COVID-19
Please check the locations on the map below.
Click on the map for information about phlebotomy clinics in Coventry. You can book an appointment online at the locations in red.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Booking an appointment helps patients, their carers and family members to plan their hospital visit better, helping to reduce clinic waiting times and enabling patients to be seen much more quickly.
Location: Outpatients Department, on the ground floor. Opening hours: 8am-4.45pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Children under 16 years old will need to book online here.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test, click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Patients from Rugby and the surrounding areas are able to access the Friends Blood Taking Unit at the Hospital of St Cross.
Referrals for blood tests can be from GP's, practice nurses or from hospital consultants. Patients are also able to leave other samples, such as urine, which have been collected at home, at the hospital's Pathology Reception.
Location: Near Brookfield House, just off North Road - map here. Opening hours: The blood taking clinic sessions for adults and children are listed below:
Monday -Friday 7am-4:45pm Appointment only
Wednesday Evening 5pm-7pm Suspended due to COVID
Saturday Morning 7am-10pm Suspended due to COVID
Address: Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry CV1 4FS Location: Access is via the main doors, the Phlebotomy team are in Area A. Opening hours: Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). 8am–4.45pm - Based on demand we are only able to see a set amount of patients per day so, once we have filled all allocated slots we can no longer accept walk-ins. This may mean you will need to revisit the site to have your blood test on another occasion or book online for another site.
Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)
Specialist Tests - There are a small number of specialist tests where blood needs to be taken on a hospital site as the sample must be transferred to the laboratory rapidly for the test to be undertaken. Click here for a list of these specialist tests and to find out more.