As Mark Cavendish raced by in the cycling road race at the
Olympics this summer, one of the spectators standing by the track was arrested.
Mark Worsfold, a 54-year-old father, was handcuffed and held by police for more
than five hours, because he “failed to smile or look like he was enjoying
himself”.
Worsfold has Parkinson’s disease. He was diagnosed in 2010 and wasn’t
smiling because one of the symptoms of his condition is muscle rigidity.
Today, the charity Parkinson’s UK has warned that sufferers
are being subjected to “intolerable levels of prejudice”, after it was found
that nearly half of those afflicted with the disease have experienced
discrimination because of their symptoms.
Parkinson's UK said that 41 per cent of sufferers say they have
been discriminated against.
The research,
undertaken to highlight Parkinson's Awareness Week, also found that one in five
Parkinson's sufferers has had their symptoms mistaken for drunkenness. And
almost a quarter of sufferers admitted they avoid going out at busy times of
the day because they are wary of people's reactions.
One person in every 500 has Parkinson’s. That’s about 127,000
diagnosed cases in the UK. And it’s not just the over 50s. One in 20 sufferers are
under 40.
The most obvious symptoms are movement related, including shaking,
rigidity and difficulty walking. It can also cause tiredness, pain and
depression.
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition caused by
a deficiency of a chemical called dopamine. It happens when the nerve cells in
the brain that generate dopamine die. Dopamine allows messages to be sent to
the parts of the brain that co-ordinate movement so without it, movements
become slower. There’s currently no cure and it’s not known why the cells die.
But meanwhile, says
Steve Ford, chief executive at Parkinson’s UK: "Far too many with
Parkinson’s are having to battle against intolerable levels of prejudice.
"Life with Parkinson's can be challenging enough, but when
that is coupled with feeling scared to even go out in public for fear of
freezing in a busy queue and being tutted or stared at - as over half the
people we spoke to do - life can feel incredibly cruel.
"Time and again people with Parkinson's have to fight
against the old stereotype that the condition is just a tremor. This basic
misunderstanding has sentenced people with Parkinson's to a life of hurtful comments,
being refused service in shops and even being shouted at in the street all
because people have mistaken their speech or movement problems - a common
symptom of the condition - for drunkenness."
Here are five things you can do to help,
compiled by people with Parkinson’s
It takes me longer to do things. Give me time - I'll get there.
Understand communicating can be difficult
If I don't smile, I'm not being unfriendly - I just can't move
my face. Talking isn't always easy, but if you listen carefully you'll hear me.
Please don't stare or make assumptions
It's upsetting if you stare or think the worst. If Parkinson's
makes me unsteady, please don't assume I'm drunk. If I'm not working it's
because I can't. There is currently no cure and my symptoms will get worse.
I can tell you if I need your help. It might take me a while to
speak, so please be patient. Don't try and move me if I freeze - I could fall
over.
Take a little time to understand Parkinson's
Parkinson's affects
all kinds of people. Many are raising families, working or volunteering in
spite of the obstacles they face. A little understanding would make life a lot
easier.
