Edward F. Steinmetz, M.D., F.A.A.N., M.D.S.

Dr. Edward F. Steinmetiz is a board-certified neurologist with 34 years of experience in diagnosis, treatment, counseling and support of Parkinson's patients and families in Lee County.

Parkinson's disease develops slowly over many years. Patients might delay seeking help for decades. The most commonly reported reason for delaying seeing a physician is that the person with symptoms thinks he is "just getting old".

Given the slowness of the onset of symptoms, how fast the physician works to establish the diagnosis is very important. Risk factors of Parkinson's disease include tremors while resting, rigidity or slowness of movement, feeling depressed or anxious, loss in ability to smell, exposure to pesticides and sleep disorder or nightmares. The median age of a Parkinson's patient is 60, and often there is a family member with Parkinson's disease or symptoms.

Early diagnosis allows treatment of patients even without a substantial disability and can make a noticeable impact on the quality of life. Outpatient therapy for patients is provided by LifeCare of Florida.