Parkinson's Disease Symptoms

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease can vary from person to person. They also may change severely at its later stages. A common symptom of Parkinson's disease is tremors. It often appears on one hand, or leg. It occurs when the patient is awake, standing, walking or sitting and when the movement is changed, it also subsides. It is the first symptom that others notice. Tremors may also affect the tongue, lips and chin. With time, it can spread to both parts of the body, though, in some cases, it only affects one part.

The tremors may increase when a patient is in severe stress and undergoing emotional deadlocks. By relaxing, changing the movement of the affected part of the body may reduce the tremor to some extent. Although patients with Parkinson's disease typically suffer with tremors, there are other diseases also that cause it. The difference is, with Parkinson's patients, moving the affected part may reduces the tremor while with other causes, moving may increase it.

Rigidity of muscles is also common. Like tremors, this can also occur in the legs, neck, arms, face or any other parts of the body and may cause pain as well. When walking, the rigidity, if it occurs in an arm, may restrict it from swinging.

There will be restricted movements, medically known as bradykinesia, as well, which occurs when patients change their postures. They experience difficulties when moving on the bed or when trying to stand from their sitting postures.

Furthermore, the persons who suffer from Parkinson's disease can face difficulty in swallowing and talking. This may cause them to cough, drool or choke and lower their normal voices. When turning around, bending or changing steps, they might lose their balance and may fall. All these symptoms do not occur at the earlier stage but at later stages of Parkinson's disease.

There may be many other symptoms as well. Some may find difficulty in writing. Their letters become small and their usual abilities in athletics may also be restricted. Even everyday activities such as eating and dressing can be difficult tasks for them.

They get cramps, increased dandruff, digesting and urinating problems, constipation, excessive sweating and decrease of blood pressure. Impotency with Parkinson's disease patients may also occur. Additionally, insomnia, mood changes, falling asleep and freezing in parts of the body is also common.

Patients with Parkinson's disease gradually become passive. They talk less and they seem indecisive and fearful. They also seem to alienate themselves from their loved ones unless they are repeatedly encouraged with friendly notions. They are more often depressed and may become disabled persons in the end. Nevertheless, their chronic depression may be changed with drugs. Some may develop dementia and confusion, which are common symptoms with Alzheimer's disease.

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