10 early symptoms of Parkinson's disease that are dangerous to ignore

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

If you speak softly, sleep poorly, and complain of dizziness, you should definitely get tested.

Parkinson's disease affects about one in every 100 Epidemiology of Parkinson's disease people over 60 years of age. With it, cells die in the area of the brain that is responsible for motor functions, motivation, learning. "Trembling paralysis" (as parkinsonism used to be called because of the characteristic trembling of the arms, legs, chin) affects not only the body, but also the mind. And, unfortunately, this is incurable.

But if you recognize the disease at an early stage, its development can be slowed down. Here are 10 Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease symptoms that should alert you. Even two or three of them are enough to urgently consult with a therapist or neurologist.

What are the early symptoms of Parkinson's disease to look out for?

1. Trembling in fingers, hands, chin

Tremor is one of the most obvious and common symptoms of Parkinson's disease. In the later stages of the disease, a person cannot even eat on his own: his hands tremble with such force that they do not allow him to bring a spoon or a cup to his mouth. But even at the very beginning, the lightest twitching of the fingers, hands, chin are also noticeable.

In principle, limb trembling can be attributed to other reasons. Perhaps you are just tired. Or they got nervous. Or, for example, you have hyperthyroidism - an excess of thyroid hormones that makes the body constantly “on edge”. It is easy to check who is to blame.

Tremors in Parkinson's disease are specific. It is called a resting tremor. This means that this or that part of the body trembles when it is in a relaxed state. But it is worth starting to perform conscious movements with it, the twitching stops.

If this is your case and resting tremors appear regularly, hurry up to see a doctor.

2. Shrinking handwriting

The letters are getting smaller, the spaces between them are getting closer, the words are clumping together … Such a change in handwriting is called Handwriting Analysis in Parkinson’s Disease: Current Status and Future Directions micrography and indicates a disturbance in the functioning of the central nervous system. Micrography is often associated with the development of Parkinson's disease.

3. Changes in gait

The movements become uneven: the person either slows down the step, then accelerates. At the same time, he can drag his legs a little - this gait is called shuffling.

4. Deterioration of smell

If until recently you easily distinguished the smell of, say, roses from the scent of a peony, and recently you have been helplessly sniffing, this is an alarming sign. Deterioration or loss of smell is a symptom that occurs in 90% of people with Parkinson's disease.

However, scent can be beaten off by other diseases - the same Alzheimer's or Huntington's. There are also less daunting options. Perhaps you just smoke too much or regularly breathe in harmful fumes. But in any case, you should show your nose to the doctor.

5. Sleep problems

Developing Parkinson's disease also seriously affects the ability to sleep (get enough sleep). The spectrum of sleep problems can be extremely wide:

• insomnia;
• excessive daytime fatigue against the background of a seemingly sound night's sleep;
• snoring as a symptom of apnea - stopping breathing during sleep;
• nightmares;
• uncontrolled sudden movements - for example, kicks or punches - during sleep.

6. Inhibition

In medical language, this is called bradykinesia. A person feels constrained, begins to move with difficulty, walks slowly, shows inhibition in performing daily activities. Also, bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease can be manifested by a slowdown in the rate of speech or reading.

7. Too quiet voice

If others notice that your voice has become too quiet and slightly hoarse, do not dismiss them. With the development of Parkinson's disease, "voice power" decreases much more actively and faster than with normal age-related changes. At the same time, speech becomes not only quiet, but also unemotional, and the timbre acquires trembling notes.

8. Deterioration of facial expressions

The Parkinson's Mask Masked Faces in Parkinson Disease: Mechanism and Treatment doctors call a face on which there seems to be no facial expressions. A person looks detached and slightly saddened, even if he is participating in an exciting conversation or is in a circle of loved ones whom he is really glad to see.

This is due to a deterioration in the mobility of the facial muscles. Often a person himself does not realize that something is wrong with his facial expressions until others inform him about it.

9. Regular constipation

As a rule, constipation is a reason to add more fluid and fiber to the diet and start moving more actively. Well, or study the side effects of the medications you are taking.

If everything is okay with your diet and lifestyle, and the constipation continues, this is a serious reason to talk to your doctor.

10. Frequent dizziness

Regular dizziness can be a sign of a decrease in pressure: blood in the right quantities for some reason simply does not reach the brain. Often, such situations are associated with the development of neurological disorders, including "tremor paralysis".

What to do if you suspect you have Parkinson's disease

First of all, don't panic. Almost all symptoms of Parkinson's disease in the initial stages can be the result of some other disorder not related to neurology.

Therefore, first of all, you need to go to a doctor - a therapist or a neurologist. The specialist will study your medical history, ask questions about nutrition, bad habits, lifestyle. You may need to undergo blood and urine tests, MRI, CT and ultrasound of the brain to rule out other diseases.

But even after receiving the research results, the doctor often has doubts. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you see a neurologist regularly to assess how your symptoms and condition have changed over time.

If Parkinson's is diagnosed, your doctor will prescribe medications that can slow down cell death in the brain. This will relieve symptoms and prolong your healthy life for many more years.