The Star: November 30, 2017
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health<br />
9<br />
Parkinson’s is a condition that affects<br />
more than 13,000 New Zealand. One per<br />
cent of Kiwi adults over the age of 60 have<br />
the disease, but it can affect anyone of any<br />
age.<br />
However, while there are no known<br />
cures, and drugs treat only some of the<br />
issues, exercise and movement have been<br />
shown to significantly improve the lives of<br />
those who have Parkinson’s, ExerciseNZ<br />
chief executive Richard Beddie says.<br />
“What’s important is that exercise needs<br />
intensity and also a cognitive function –<br />
engaging the mind and the body – to have<br />
the best effects. So, things such as dancing,<br />
or workouts with certain types of agility<br />
components, can be the most effective,”<br />
Mr Beddie says.<br />
“People with Parkinson’s should get<br />
good advice, work with their doctor or<br />
physio, and then an exercise professional<br />
that has specialist training. <strong>Star</strong>ting<br />
exercise early after diagnosis is key for the<br />
best outcomes.<br />
“Parkinson’s is a progressive,<br />
neurological disease, with no cure.<br />
Symptoms and progression can be<br />
managed, as exercise helps,” he says.<br />
Regular<br />
exercise can<br />
improve lives<br />
for people<br />
with Parkinson’s<br />
“Even 20 minutes a day of gentle exercise<br />
can help people. Exercise increases the<br />
body’s response to dopamine cells in the<br />
brain, thus slowing the progression of the<br />
disease in some people, and helping to<br />
manage the symptoms in others.”<br />
Symptoms of Parkinson’s include lack<br />
of balance, tremors, stiffness or rigidity,<br />
and slowness of movement known as<br />
bradykinesia.<br />
“Balance exercises assist with reducing<br />
falls,” Mr Beddie says. “People with<br />
Parkinson’s are at greater risk of falls.<br />
Exercise activities such as walking or<br />
dancing are steps in the right direction for<br />
people living with Parkinson’s disease.”<br />
Note: <strong>The</strong>re is no cure but there is<br />
a range of treatments for Parkinson’s<br />
diesease. Scientists and researchers agree<br />
patients benefit from physical therapy.<br />
While Parkinson’s itself is not considered<br />
fatal, people can die from complications of<br />
the disease.<br />
Pensioners amazed<br />
by new hearing aids<br />
Hearing aids have historically been<br />
something most people have avoided for<br />
as long as possible. On average, a person<br />
experiencing hearing difficulties will<br />
delay seeking help in this regard for over<br />
seven years. Imagine enduring any other<br />
medical complaint for so long!<br />
In New Zealand, one in six people<br />
have some degree of hearing difficulty.<br />
Over the age of 60, more than half the<br />
population are living with a significant<br />
hearing reduction. As the main first sign<br />
of this is a drop in speech clarity, it can<br />
easily be blamed on other people not<br />
speaking properly, the TV sound being<br />
unclear, or just too much social noise<br />
causing the problem.<br />
A leading Danish hearing aid<br />
manufacturer has just launched a<br />
brand-new range of instruments that<br />
are amazing pensioners with hearing<br />
difficulties around the world. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
incredibly discreet devices are so<br />
comfortable, you can forget you are<br />
wearing them. Hear Again, the newly<br />
opened hearing clinic at <strong>The</strong> Hub,<br />
Hornby, have been fitting these devices to<br />
their many very satisfied clients with huge<br />
success.<br />
Nick D. aged 78, describes his<br />
experience.<br />
“I was reluctant to have my hearing<br />
tested as I really didn’t want to get hearing<br />
aids,” he says. “It was only when my<br />
granddaughter said she was concerned<br />
that I was missing out on family fun that<br />
I thought I should check it out. We have a<br />
big family and when they all get together,<br />
it becomes too noisy for me. I just take<br />
myself off into another room.”<br />
Nick had a FREE hearing check at<br />
Hear Again, which confirmed he had a<br />
reduction in his hearing causing social<br />
noise to be a problem for him. After being<br />
provided with a pair of the new hearing<br />
aids he cannot believe the difference.<br />
“It’s just like I’ve got my ears back<br />
again. Nobody can see I’ve got the hearing<br />
aids in and they feel so comfortable, I<br />
forget they are there!” says Nick, “I can<br />
hear so clearly now, the kids can’t get<br />
away with anything! <strong>The</strong> whole family are<br />
so pleased!”<br />
Neil Hardisty, NZAS Audiometrist, sees<br />
results like these every day at Hear Again.<br />
Neil has been expertly overcoming<br />
hearing difficulties for residents of<br />
Christchurch since moving here from the<br />
UK in 2009. He is frequently praised for<br />
his limitless patience, wonderful caring<br />
nature and ability to solve problems other<br />
clinicians have deemed impossible. Neil is<br />
never satisfied until you are. His expertise<br />
coupled with this very latest technology<br />
makes for a winning combination.<br />
Hear Again offer FREE no-obligation<br />
initial hearing assessments. If you, or<br />
any of your loved ones have noticed any<br />
difficulties with your hearing, this can be<br />
quickly and painlessly checked for you at<br />
<strong>The</strong> Hub, 418 Main South Road, Hornby.<br />
If you already have hearing aids from any<br />
manufacturer, we will give them a FREE<br />
5 star service for you to ensure they are in<br />
tip-top condition. Call 03 974 1658.<br />
We look forward to delighting you with<br />
our service and help you to rejoin the<br />
conversation.
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