What Are The Early Symptoms Of Parkinson’s

Early And Late Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder. It is characterized by progressive loss of muscle control, stiffness, slowness, and impaired balance. As the disease progresses the patient presents symptoms such as difficulty in walking, talking, and completing simple tasks.

The adult onset of disease is very common and it is mostly seen in the people aged 60 years or elder. Early onset i.e. age between 21-40 years or juvenile onset i.e. below 21 years of age can also occur.

R = Rem Sleep Behavior Disorder

REM Sleep Behavior Disorder is a problem related to dreams.

When a person without Parkinsons disease sleeps, the body is paralyzed. Thus, he/she cannot move or act out their dreams. This is a normal process.

When Parkinsons patients sleep, this does not happen. So, they may act out their dreams.

Parkinsons patients may start talking when sleeping. They may walk or run while sleeping, and sometimes thrash wildly.

These movements can be violent. They can hurt the patient or the person sleeping beside them.

This problem of moving while dreaming is called REM Sleep Behavior Disorder .

You can read more about sleep problems with Parkinsons here: .

Also, here is a good website explaining RBD in greater detail.

The First Motor Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease

When people ask what are the early signs and symptoms of PD? the answer they are typically expecting is one that involves motor symptoms. Early motor symptoms of PD can be a subtle rest tremor of one of the arms or hands . A rest tremor is one that occurs when the limb is completely at rest. If the tremor occurs when the limb is suspended against gravity or actively moving, this may still be a sign of PD, but may also be a sign of essential tremor.

The initial motor symptom of PD may be a sense of stiffness in one limb, sometimes interpreted as an orthopedic problem . This sense of stiffness may be noted when a person is trying to get on his/her coat for example. A person may also experience a sense of slowness of one hand or a subtle decrease in dexterity of one hand. For example, it may be hard to manipulate a credit card out of a wallet or perform a fast, repetitive motor task such as whisking an egg. A person may notice that one arm does not swing when he/she walks or that one arm is noticeably less active than the other when performing tasks. Another motor sign may be a stoop with walking or a slowing down of walking. A family member may notice that the person blinks infrequently or has less expression in his/her face and voice.

These motor symptoms may be very subtle. Bottom line if you are concerned that you may have an early motor or non-motor symptom of Parkinsons disease, make an appointment with a neurologist for a neurologic exam to discuss your concerns.

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Trouble With Automatic Movements

There are certain movements that your body performs automatically, with you needing to provide any conscious input, including blinking, swallowing, or swinging your arms when you walk. Parkinsons disease can contribute to a loss of these automatic movements which is why it is important to perform coordination exercises for Parkinsons patients.

These symptoms play an intrinsic role in diagnosing the disease. While there is no singular test for Parkinsons disease, you generally need to exhibit tremors, bradykinesia, and rigid muscles to be considered for a diagnosis.

Managing Depression In Parkinsons Disease

People with Parkinsons, family members and caregivers may not always recognize the signs of depression and anxiety. If you are experiencing depression as a symptom of Parkinsons, it is important to know it can be treated.

Here are some suggestions:

• For information and support on living well with Parkinsons disease, contact our Information and Referral line.
• As much as possible, remain socially engaged and physically active. Resist the urge to isolate yourself.
• You may want to consult a psychologist and there are medications that help relieve depression in people with Parkinsons, including nortriptyline and citalopram .

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Diagnosis And Management Of Parkinsons Disease

There are no diagnostic tests for Parkinsons. X-rays, scans and blood tests may be used to rule out other conditions. For this reason, getting a diagnosis of Parkinsons may take some time.

No two people with Parkinsons disease will have exactly the same symptoms or treatment. Your doctor or neurologist can help you decide which treatments to use.

People can manage their Parkinsons disease symptoms through:

• seeing a Doctor who specialises in Parkinsons
• medication
• multidisciplinary therapy provided for example, by nurses, allied health professionals and counsellors
• deep brain stimulation surgery .

Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease is a progressive disease and the symptoms of this disease are often unnoticeable during the initial stage.

One of the most obvious symptoms of this condition is tremors in the hand or changes in the movement in one side of your body.

Lets discuss them as follows:

Some of the early symptoms of Parkinsons can begin a number of years before motor problems develop.

The earliest signs are a decrease in your ability to smell oranosmia, constipation, small, cramped handwriting, voice changes, and stooped posture.

Moreover, the 4 major motor issues that are noticeable are:Tremor or shaking that occurs at rest, slow movements, stiffness of arms, legs, and trunk.

Problems with balance and tendency to fall are among the motor problems.

Secondary symptoms of this disease are:

Blank facial expressions, a tendency to get stuck when walking, muffled, or low volume speech.

Parkinsons gait is the tendency to take shuffling steps while walking.

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Causes Of Parkinsons Disease

At present, we do not know the cause of Parkinsons disease. In most people there is no family history of Parkinsons Researchers worldwide are investigating possible causes, including:

• environmental triggers, pesticides, toxins, chemicals
• genetic factors
• combinations of environment and genetic factors
• head trauma.

Can Doctors Miss The Early Signs Of Parkinsons Disease

Yes, doctors are human.

There has been a tremendous increase in human knowledge over recent years. It is not possible for a single person to recognize all the symptoms of all the diseases.

Thus, when a patient only has the early symptoms of Parkinsons disease, the diagnosis of Parkinsons disease is often missed.

As noted above, the early symptoms of Parkinsons disease can be vague.

Even if you have some of these symptoms, your diagnosis needs to be confirmed by a physical examination. This examination detects the early signs of Parkinsons disease.

Sometimes when the doctor examines you, everything might be perfectly normal. This may be due to one of two things:

The last thing to make sure is that you dont have a disease that can mimic Parkinsons disease. This can lead to misdiagnosis.

If the doctor is not sure, a test called Trodat/F-Dopa scan may help with diagnosis

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How Many People Have Parkinsons Disease

Worldwide, there are more than 10 million Parkinsons patients and the Parkinsons Foundation predicts nearly 1 million Americans will have PD by 2020. Each year, the U.S. sees around 60,000 new diagnoses. Age and gender are the greatest risk factors. Around 96 percent of patients are over the age of 50 and men are around 1.5 times more likely to have PD.

Stiffness And Slowed Movements

Watch for an abnormal stiffness in your joints along with muscle weakness that doesnt go away and makes everyday tasks like walking, teeth brushing, buttoning shirts, or cutting food difficult. If you no longer swing your arms when walking, your feet feel stuck to the floor , or people comment that you look stiff when you havent been injured, the National Parkinson Foundation suggests seeing a doctor.

Learn more about these types of leg pain.

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Why Is Expert Care Important

Early expert care can help reduce PD complications. Findings show that 60 percent of people with Parkinson’s fall short of getting the expert care they need. The National Parkinson Foundation has estimated that about 6,400 people with Parkinson’s die unnecessarily each year due to poor care.

Trained neurologists will help you recognize, treat and manage the disease. Common approaches include medication, surgical treatment, lifestyle modifications , physical therapy, support groups, occupational therapy and speech therapy. The best approach is interdisciplinary care, where you are seen by multiple specialists on a regular basis and all of the specialists talk and arrange the best possible coordinated care. This is what is referred to as a patient-centric approach to Parkinson’s care.

What Is Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and the most common movement disorder. Characteristics of Parkinsons disease are progressive loss of muscle control, which leads to trembling of the limbs and head while at rest, stiffness, slowness, and impaired balance. As symptoms worsen, it may become difficult to walk, talk, and complete simple tasks.

The progression of Parkinson’s disease and the degree of impairment vary from person to person. Many people with Parkinson’s disease live long productive lives, whereas others become disabled much more quickly. Complications of Parkinsons such as falling-related injuries or pneumonia. However, studies of patent populations with and without Parkinsons Disease suggest the life expectancy for people with the disease is about the same as the general population.

Most people who develop Parkinson’s disease are 60 years of age or older. Since overall life expectancy is rising, the number of individuals with Parkinson’s disease will increase in the future. Adult-onset Parkinson’s disease is most common, but early-onset Parkinson’s disease , and juvenile-onset Parkinson’s disease can occur.

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Trouble Moving Or Walking

Do you feel stiff in your body, arms or legs? Have others noticed that your arms dont swing like they used to when you walk? Sometimes stiffness goes away as you move. If it does not, it can be a sign of Parkinson’s disease. An early sign might be stiffness or pain in your shoulder or hips. People sometimes say their feet seem stuck to the floor.

What is normal?If you have injured your arm or shoulder, you may not be able to use it as well until it is healed, or another illness like arthritis might cause the same symptom.

Depression May Be An Early Symptom Of Parkinsons

Depression is one of the most common, and most disabling, non-motor symptoms of Parkinsons disease. As many as 50 per cent of people with Parkinsons experience the symptoms of clinical depression at some stage of the disease. Some people experience depression up to a decade or more before experiencing any motor symptoms of Parkinsons.

Clinical depression and anxiety are underdiagnosed symptoms of Parkinsons. Researchers believe that depression and anxiety in Parkinsons disease may be due to chemical and physical changes in the area of the brain that affect mood as well as movement. These changes are caused by the disease itself.

Here are some suggestions to help identify depression in Parkinsons:

• Mention changes in mood to your physician if they do not ask you about these conditions.
• Complete our Geriatric Depression Scale-15 to record your feelings so you can discuss symptoms with your doctor. Download the answer key and compare your responses.

• delusions and impulse control disorders

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Slowing Parkinsons Early Symptoms

Even your doctor will find that early symptoms of Parkinsons disease are difficult to diagnose.

And, usually, by the time people get medical advice, there has already been substantial damage to the brain.

• So if you suspect Parkinsons early symptoms, you may want to do extra to protect yourself:

Make sure your Parkinson diet has lots of fruits and vegetables – antioxidants – to slowfree radical damage. 1

Also add the best protective brain health supplements.

Here’s what you can do NOW:

• Alert your doctor to make sure your symptoms are truly early symptoms of Parkinsons disease.

• Change your diet by adding more fruits and vegetables –foods high in anti oxidants, and high quality proteins, and eliminate all processed foods.

• Keep active, keep moving, and exercise.

• Depression often goes with Parkinsons, so see your doctor and look after yourself if that is the case.

• Add proven BRAIN HEALTH supplements now.

Accept What You Can No Longer Do

Over time, it may seem as though you are losing your independence because you can no longer do all the things you once did. As these losses occur, you will probably go through the five stages of grief identified by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. They include denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Being aware of the issue or loss to which you are reacting will help you to move from one stage to another more easily.

No matter what your symptoms are, motor or non-motor symptoms, dont let Parkinsons beat you!

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Changes To Your Walking

• Smaller steps
• Not swinging your arms while walking
• Multiple steps required to turn around when walking, possibly tripping up the feet
• One foot turning inward or outward a bit, causing tripping
• One arm could also be bent inward

The turning of the arm or foot, called dystonia, is often one of the first signs we see, so were always on the lookout for it, Dr. Joseph says.

The Most Important Thing

The diagnosis of Parkinsons disease is often delayed.

Unfortunately, people often neglect the early symptoms. It is not unusual for 5 years to go by before the patient is finally diagnosed with Parkinsons disease.

In addition to symptoms, a doctors examination may uncover additional early signs of Parkinsons disease.

Do not neglect these symptoms. Talk to your doctor early.

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Learn The First Symptoms And When To Get Treatment

Parkinsons disease is a neurological disorder that affects about 1 million people in the United States. It primarily affects neurons in the brain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical messenger that sends signals from the brain to cells throughout the body.

Parkinsons is a degenerative illness, meaning it starts with mild symptoms that become worse over time. The early signs of Parkinsons are usually subtle, but ultimately the disease can cause debilitating symptoms that disrupt both physical and cognitive abilities.

The cause of Parkinsons is unknown, but may be a combination of genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors. The risk increases with age, but between 2 and 10 percent of people who develop the disease are diagnosed before age 50.

Early symptoms of Parkinsons

Parkinsons does not affect everyone the same way. Symptoms can vary from person to person, and the disease may progress at different rates, says Melissa Houser, MD, a neurologist at Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines. In fact, the first signs of Parkinsons may be vague or associated with other conditions like respiratory infections, making it difficult to know if they are caused by the disease or something else.

According to the Parkinsons Foundation, the following can be early symptoms. If you or a loved one has more than one of them on a regular basis, its a good idea to make an appointment with the doctor.

Tremor

Loss of smell

Handwriting changes

Sleeping problems

Voice changes

Noticing Early Signs Of Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons early symptoms are easy to overlook, so you may want to take seriously the feedback you are getting from friends and family!

You might even ask if they have noticed anything such as:

• Do you seem more still than usual and a bit slower?
• Are you more stiff than usual?
• Your face may have less expression than it used to have, and blink less, because one of the Parkinsons symptoms is called a “masked face.”
• You might be speaking more softly
• You have more trouble with walking or even talking and lose track of a word or thought
• Even being depressed and irritable could be signs of Parkinsons disease

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Support For People With Parkinsons Disease

Early access to a multidisciplinary support team is important. These teams may include doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, dietitians, social workers and specialist nurses. Members of the team assess the person with Parkinsons disease and identify potential difficulties and possible solutions.There are a limited number of multidisciplinary teams in Victoria that specialise in Parkinsons disease management. But generalist teams are becoming more aware of how to help people with Parkinsons disease.

Do What You Can While You Can

I have had Parkinsons disease for nearly 20 years. My wife is a teacher, so we travel every summer when she is not working. Since my diagnosis, I have been to China, Nepal, Prague, Paris and many other places. The Parkinsons comes along, too, so our trips require more planning than they used to and we involve my care team. We factor in daily naps and take it slow. My balance isnt as good as it used to be and too much walking wears me out so we bring a collapsible wheelchair along or make sure one is available. I also use a cane. I dont know how many more places we will get to visit as my disease continues to progress, but we have made some wonderful memories that we wouldnt have if we had let my Parkinsons dictate every aspect of our lives. Nicholas, diagnosed at 52, still traveling at 72

Many people with Parkinsons disease are not allowing the condition to take over their lives. Despite the everyday setbacks they face, they are still creating fulfilling lives for themselves by redirecting their attention to people and activities that bring them joy. You can do the same. Try building a few hobbies into your routine that will give you a break from dwelling on the disease. Find some activities that help you forget about Parkinsons for a while. That may be painting, writing, gardening, or reading to your grandchildren.

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