The Journey Towards my Career Life

After 4 years of full attention toward my major which was Biochemistry in the Lebanese International University (LIU), during the business job fair I had a great chance applying to certain companies. Luckily, I got a chance of being interviewed at Poppins company in Mansoura- West Bekaa, and what most got their attention in my CV was the fact that I participated in a Science Fair, under the topic Antimicrobial efficiency of toothpaste in reducing oral bacteria and won first place; which leaded directly to my position as a Microbiologist Analyst. Working at Poppins is great, I have been learning so much since I started working there as my first job, I got to meet new people who had a lot more experience than me, so I totally had the chance to lean more and more from them.

As a microbiologist analyst, my work at the industry is to make sure of the safety of the products, testing the product produced daily before sent to the markets, I also tend to examine the water used in the process, also  examine the cleanse of the surfaces and  inspectors from any type of bacteria that could be found.

I tend to manage my life, in between my work, and my time needed at university. It has been a hard to manage the time but also a great experience at the same time until now, and I hope one day I will achieve everything I plan for.

Parkinson Disease

Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Symptoms start gradually, sometimes starting with barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Tremors are common, but the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement.
In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, your face may show little or no expression. Your arms may not swing when you walk. Your speech may become soft or slurred. Parkinson's disease symptoms worsen as your condition progresses over time.
Although Parkinson's disease can't be cured, medications might significantly improve patients' symptoms. Occasionally, the doctor may suggest surgery to regulate certain regions of your brain and improve Patients' symptoms.

Symptoms

Parkinson's disease signs and symptoms can be different for everyone. Early signs may be mild and go unnoticed. Symptoms often begin on one side of your body and usually remain worse on that side, even after symptoms begin to affect both sides.

Parkinson's signs and symptoms may include:

• Tremor. A tremor, or shaking, usually begins in a limb, often your hand or fingers. You may a rub your thumb and forefinger back-and-forth, known as a pill-rolling tremor. Your hand may tremor when it's at rest.

• Slowed movement (bradykinesia). Over time, Parkinson's disease may slow your movement, making simple tasks difficult and time-consuming. Your steps may become shorter when you walk. It may be difficult to get out of a chair. You may drag your feet as you try to walk.

• Rigid muscles. Muscle stiffness may occur in any part of your body. The stiff muscles can be painful and limit your range of motion.

• Impaired posture and balance. Your posture may become stooped, or you may have balance problems as a result of Parkinson's disease.

• Loss of automatic movements. You may have a decreased ability to perform unconscious movements, including blinking, smiling or swinging your arms when you walk.

• Speech changes. You may speak softly, quickly, hesitate before talking. Your speech may be more of a monotone rather than with the usual inflections.

• Writing changes. It may become hard to write, and your writing may appear small.

Causes

In Parkinson's disease, certain nerve cells (neurons) in the brain gradually break down or die. Many of the symptoms are due to a loss of neurons that produce a chemical messenger in your brain called dopamine. When dopamine levels decrease, it causes abnormal brain activity, leading to symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, but several factors appear to play a role, including:

• Your genes. Researchers have identified specific genetic mutations that can cause Parkinson's disease. But these are uncommon except in rare cases with many family members affected by Parkinson's disease.
  However, certain gene variations appear to increase the risk of Parkinson's disease but with a relatively small risk of Parkinson's disease for each of these genetic markers.

• Environmental triggers. Exposure to certain toxins or environmental factors may increase the risk of later Parkinson's disease, but the risk is relatively small.

• The presence of Lewy bodies. Clumps of specific substances within brain cells are microscopic markers of Parkinson's disease. These are called Lewy bodies, and researchers believe these Lewy bodies hold an important clue to the cause of Parkinson's disease.

• Alpha-synuclein is found within Lewy bodies. Although many substances are found within Lewy bodies, scientists believe an important one is the natural and widespread protein called alpha-synuclein (a-synuclein). It's found in all Lewy bodies in a clumped form that cells can't break down. This is currently an important focus among Parkinson's disease researchers.

Researchers have also noted that many changes occur in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease, although it's not clear why these changes occur. These changes include:

Risk Factors

Risk factors for Parkinson's disease include:

• Age. Young adults rarely experience Parkinson's disease. It ordinarily begins in middle or late life, and the risk increases with age. People usually develop the disease around age 60 or older.

• Heredity. Having a close relative with Parkinson's disease increases the chances that you'll develop the disease. However, your risks are still small unless you have many relatives in your family with Parkinson's disease.

• Sex. Men are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than are women.

• Exposure to toxins. Ongoing exposure to herbicides and pesticides may slightly increase your risk of Parkinson's disease.

References 

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2. Parkinson's disease: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Hope-Through-Research/Parkinsons-Disease-Hope-Through-Research. Accessed May 29, 2018.
3. Ferri FF. Parkinson's disease. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2018. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier; 2018. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 29, 2018.
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