What are the early signs of Parkinson's?

Answer 1

Early signs of Parkinson's include:

Tremor (usually a coarse shaking of the hand while it is as rest that calms down when you use it).

Small hand writing

Loss of the sense of smell.

Trouble sleeping

Muscle stiffness, trouble walking

Constipation

A lower (softer) voice.

Less facial expression

Dizziness

stooping over.

Answer 2

Close your eyes and picture this. You've just finished a long day at work and while driving home feel your left hand and arm shake a little, as you exit your vehicle you notice that you have trouble swinging your arms as you walk. You walk into your home trying to figure out why your arms are a little less mobile and why you have some shaking in your left hand.After eating and watching your favorite television program you realize the shaking in your arm hasn't stopped. Blaming it on hard work you walk up the stairs for a rest that is sure to drive these recent shakes away.

When you wake up you notice that the shaking subsists, worried you call the doctor and set-up an early morning appointment. After meeting with the doctor for only a few minutes he says all signs point to Parkinson's disease. After a few months the tremors become worse and it is much more difficult to do some of the small things that seemed so meniscule, a couple of years later the disease becomes so progressive that you have to quit your job much earlier than anticipated and focus your energy and attention on your health. I won't go any further but this is the happenings of many people who develop Parkinson's.

Fortunately, there are drugs and surgical procedures that have been found to eliminate some or all the tremors that persist. A new procedure, deep brain stimulation, is performed when small electrodes are implanted in the brain and through electrical methods are used to stimulate the brain. Some Parkinson's patients who had this surgery can attest to how successful it can be in eliminating some or even all of the tremors that existed in their condition. This is one of a few treatments for Parkinson and there are many more being researched. A few organizations have risen up and are actively seeking a cure and much greater treatment. It's unfortunate that more and more people are developing Parkinson's disease, but it is amazing how much progress we have made in treating it.

Answer 3

You will notice little things happening like one of your arms may not swing or when using a key board some fingers do not move off the keys. Other symptoms include: Tremor, shaking, transient memory loss, confusion, loss of language skills, ocular changes including vision impairment associated with cataracts, loss of motor skills, loss of muscle mass.

Answer 4

== == Early symptoms of Parkinson's Disease are subtle and occur gradually. Affected people may feel mild tremors or have difficulty getting out of a chair. They may notice that they speak too softly or that their handwriting is slow and looks cramped or small. They may lose track of a word or thought, or they may feel tired, irritable, or depressed for no apparent reason. This very early period may last a long time before the more classic and obvious symptoms appear. Friends or family members may be the first to notice changes in someone with early PD. They may see that the person's face lacks expression and animation (known as "masked face") or that the person does not move an arm or leg normally. They also may notice that the person seems stiff, unsteady, or unusually slow. As the disease progresses, the shaking or tremor that affects the majority of Parkinson's patients may begin to interfere with daily activities. Patients may not be able to hold utensils steady or they may find that the shaking makes reading a newspaper difficult. Tremor is usually the symptom that causes people to seek medical help. People with PD often develop a so-called parkinsonian gait that includes a tendency to lean forward, small quick steps as if hurrying forward (called festination), and reduced swinging of the arms. They also may have trouble initiating movement (start hesitation), and they may stop suddenly as they walk (freezing). PD does not affect everyone the same way, and the rate of progression differs among patients. Tremor is the major symptom for some patients, while for others, tremor is nonexistent or very minor. PD symptoms often begin on one side of the body. However, as it progresses, the disease eventually affects both sides. Even after the disease involves both sides of the body, the symptoms are often less severe on one side than on the other.