Parkinson’sdisease is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that causes disabilities in movements initially starting on one side of the body and then to the other side which typically worsens after a few years and sometimes even sooner. The signs and symptoms to varying from person to person making it difficult to diagnose the disease for early treatment. The signs are the ones that one has to keenly observe.
Tremor: It is the most common and noticeable sign that begins in limbs. The thumbs and the forefinger too shiver or shake which is called as a pill-rolling tremor when it is in the relaxed position.
Stiffness in muscles: The muscles get rigid or stiffened restricting you to do things at normal pace followed by severe pain.
Bradykinesia: It is a phenomenon for slowed movement. Patients who are having this sign usually find it very hard to walk, taking shorter steps and dragging his feet as he walks. This disability makes him find the simplest tasks difficult often making him take more time than usual.
Changes in speech: The voice gets slurred and slow. He takes time before he answers. Everything slows down including his speech in Parkinson’s’ disease.
Difficulty in writing: Writing too becomes difficult. Literally everything starts falling apart hindering his self-confidence sometimes leading to depression.
Balance and Movements: Parkinson’s affects his balance making him stooped. Movements like swinging his arms, smiling, blinking will reduce considerably.
When to see a doctor:
If you notice any of the above changes, visit a doctor without prolonging or taking self-medication. You always stand a chance to get your treatment conducted effectively when you go in an early stage.
Some of the other symptoms that one has to be watching are:
- Dementia
- Depression
- Constipation
- Anxiety, fear
- Orthostatic hypotension i.e. dizzy feeling
- Drooling
- Confusion
- Difficulty in eating
- Sleeping disorders
- Urinary related problems
- Sexual dysfunction
- Feeling of tiredness
- Memory loss
- Changes in handwriting
- Lack of posture
- Lack of motor skills
- Changes in speech
- Shaking in the head
- Lack of balance when he leans forward or backwards.
- Skin related problems
Not necessarily all the above symptoms would lead you to have a Parkinson’s disease. Some of these symptoms like depression and ageing are related to other degenerative brain disorders. Hence, it is advisable to consult a doctor to get the diagnosis done to start an early treatment or also to rule out if there is any other disease that are causing these symptoms.
As discussed earlier, the symptoms vary from person to person with respect to its intensity and its steadfastness. Even the smallest of the symptoms should not be neglected. The faster you react to a situation the treatment and the recovery will be far better.
Dependency is a worse situation for a man when he cannot perform the simplest of the chores. In certain rare cases, the physician can conduct surgery in a certain part of the brain of his patient to help him improve his symptoms and get on with his life in a better way. Hence, watch the symptoms carefully and stay alert whether it is for you or the others.