If you, like the rest of us thought Parkinson’s is primarily related to only tremors or shaking of limbs then the experts have a wake-up call.
Undeniably Parkinson’s is largely associated with tremors but the condition is characterized by a wide array of symptoms that are motor (movement-related) and non-motor in nature, most of which may be overlooked. To make things a little more complicated, these symptoms don’t usually appear in the initial stages and are differently expressed in different people. Hence a good way would be to keep a checklist of early signs and symptoms handy, like the one prepared by our team of experts for timely intervention.
Medically acknowledged early signs of Parkinson’s
Motor Symptoms:
- Bradykinesia- Slowness of movement. One of the earliest signs of Parkinson’s is the slowing down of natural movement and affects almost 98% of people who are affected with the condition. Slowing down means people take a longer time to do the things that they were able to do quickly as muscles take a longer time to react to the nerve impulses. This is expressed as slower coordination of movement, slower and shorted steps while walking, softening of voice, and handwriting becoming smaller. There is also a loss of facial expression and reduced blinking of the eye with increased overall fatigue.
- Rigidity or stiffness- This symptom encompasses pain, stiffness, and weakness in the muscles and usually starts in one limb before moving on to another. This leads to stooping of posture, muscle cramps, difficulty while turning in bed or getting out of a chair, reduced arm movement, and challenges in activities like dressing or chopping food.
- Loss of balance- People who are likely to be affected with Parkinson’s have bent spines that make them lean forward, thereby increasing their chances of falls due to lack of balance. Many people also develop blurred and double vision in the initial stages which contributes to more falls and mishaps. The Parkinson’s Europe organization mentions that tired, watery, or dry eyes may also be an early sign of Parkinson’s.
- Freezing- Freezing means sudden loss of movement of limbs or delay in movement for a few seconds. Eg- while walking, the feet of the person may remain glued to the ground while the upper body is in motion causing them to zone out and fall.
- Involuntary movements– These include twitches, jerking, twisting, or simple restlessness in the body. But cannot be classified as tremors. The most common body parts that are affected are the limbs and the trunk. There can also be involuntary muscle spasms that are characterized by the tightening of muscles that fail to relax. The spasms usually occur in the feet, hands, eyes, and jaws.
- Difficulty in swallowing– Another hidden sign of Parkinson’s is difficulty or hesitation in swallowing, choking, or regurgitation of food accompanied by coughing or continuous clearing of the throat. There is also a marked reduction in appetite.
- Restless leg syndrome– This is characterized by the urge to keep shaking or moving the legs while watching television, or before going to sleep. The restlessness is accompanied by pain, burning sensation, or pins and needles in the legs.
- Tremors– This involves shaking noticed in different parts of the body either while in a resting position or while holding a cup or any other object.
Non-Motor Symptoms
- Compulsive Behaviour– An early symptom of Parkinson’s is when someone experiences a strong and overwhelming urge to do something or act in a particular way due to the drop in dopamine levels. This includes obsessive gambling, hypersexuality, binge eating, performing repeated aimless actions, neglecting personal hygiene, excessive grooming, and arranging certain items compulsively.
- Memory problems– Some people experience memory loss and slowed thought processes like finding it challenging to complete a task, finding directions, reduced concentration, lack of motivation, and problems in holding a conversation or finding the right word. According to experts memory loss gets initiated at least a year before the motor symptoms begin to appear.
- Hallucinations and delusions– Parkinson’s causes visual illusions and beliefs in a person that are not real or happening in the physical world like sensing false threats or developing mistrust that may lead to problems in relations.
- Changes in sleep patterns– Many people experience spells of disrupted sleep due to changes in the neural network of the brain.
- Bowel and bladder problems– Problems such as constipation, and urinary incontinence are considered as early signs of Parkinson’s due to rigidity and slowness of muscles, and reduced dopamine levels.
- Loss of smell and pain– Experiencing unexplained loss of smell and pain in various parts of the body could also indicate Parkinson’s.
- Skin issues– People who are on their way to Parkinson’s show certain changes in their skin like their skin becoming too oily around their nose, forehead, and scalp, and itchy skin especially on the scalp or the face. Excessive sweating or too little sweating also may be an early indication of the condition.
When to seek help
Early diagnosis and timely intervention are always invaluable in treating or managing progressive health conditions. If you or your loved one are experiencing any of the above symptoms consistently then it is advisable to consult a doctor and get an accurate diagnosis before going into a panic mode. A word of caution would be not to self-diagnose and assume that the condition exists before a thorough examination.
