Condition Information Packs

The health information packs listed below are produced by Helping Hands. The packs are frequently reviewed by Health Care Professionals to ensure they are continually up to date and contain relevant informtion.

To download an information pack, click on the condition you are interested in.

Parkinsons

Parkinson's is a progressive neurological condition affecting movements such as walking, talking and writing. Parkinson's occurs as a result of a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain known as the substantia nigra. These cells are responsible for producing a chemical called Dopamine. This is hte chemical that allos messages to be sent to the parts of the brain which co-ordinate movement. Without this chemical these parts of the brain are unable to function normally.

Click here to download our Parkinsons information pack.

Stroke

A stroke is what happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Blood carries essential nutrients and oxygen to the brain. Without a blood supply, brain cells can be damaged or destroyed and won't be able to do their job. A blood clot restricting the flow of blood to the brain is the most common cause of strokes, but some are caused by bleeding in or around the brain from a burst blood vessel.

Click here to download our Stoke information pack.

Dementia

Describes a progressive deterioration in mental powers (thinking and memory) accompanied by changes in behaviour and personality (emotional control, social behaviour and motivation). Each person with dementia is a unique individual with their own very different experiences of life, their own needs and feelings and their own likes and dislikes. Everyone will be affected by their dementia differently. As a carer you need to be prepared to respond in a flexible and sensitive way. Remember they will continue to experience emotions as we all do and have a history, a present and a future to consider and reflect upon.

Click here to download our Dementia information pack.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the Central Nervous System, that's the brain and spinal cord. Predominately it is a disease of the 'white matter' tissue. The white matter is made up of nerve fibres which are responsible for transmitting communication signals both internally within the CNS and the nerves supplying rest of the body therefore causing problems with muscle control, vision, balance and sensation. It is most likely to start in people between 20 - 40 years. It affects 85,000 people in the UK with women being more likely to be affected than men.

Click here to download our Multiple Sclerosis information pack.

Muscular Dystrophy

The muscular dystrophies are a group of more than 30 genetic and hereditary diseases characterised by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles, defects in muscle proteins and the death of muscle cells and tissue that control movement. There are many forms of muscular dystrophy, some noticeable at birth, others in adolescence, but the three most common types are Duchenne, Myotonic and Facioscapulohumeral. These three types differ in terms of pattern of inheritance, age of onset, rate of progression and distribution of weakness.

Click here to download our Muscular Dystrophy information pack.