Early Signs Of Parkinson’s Disease: What To Watch Out For

Parkinson’s Disease is a debilitative neurological condition that can be challenging for you or your loved ones to tackle. It often presents in the form of small, easy-to-ignore symptoms at first. By keeping an eye out for them and consulting a doctor at once, the patient can start benefiting from the best Parkinson’s Disease treatment in Bangalore right away. Here’s a quick guide to the early warning signs that could indicate Parkinson’s Disease.

Understanding Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative conditions in the world. It primarily damages the dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra. Parkinson’s Disease affects people above 65 years of age and has both physical and behavioral aspects. Treatment options include stem cell therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy and regenerative rehabilitation therapy.

Early signs of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease usually develops over several years and shows up initially in small, seemingly harmless ways. Having just one of these isn’t necessarily an indicator of the condition, but if you have two or more, it’s important to seek a diagnosis right away. Particularly if you are above 50 years of age, here are some signs you and the people around you should be on the alert for:

Loss of smell: Being unable to smell certain types of food even when you don’t have a blocked nose, like dill pickles or bananas, could be an early indicator of Parkinson’s Disease. You may even find that your ability to smell different types of food has gone away altogether.

Trouble sleeping: Many patients will experience trouble sleeping and a tendency to move around in bed or enact one’s dreams when fast asleep. Your spouse might be the first to notice this and alert you.

Small handwriting: Many Parkinson’s Disease patients report a reduction in the size of their handwriting and a tendency to crowd letters together, a phenomenon called micrographia.

Tremor: A slight tremor in your finger, hand or chin while you are at rest can be an early sign of the condition, especially if the tremors stop when you start moving the affected body part. However, tremors could also be caused by intense exercise or another medication you are currently on, so ask your doctor about it.

Constipation: Consistently straining to move your bowels every morning could be a warning sign of Parkinson’s Disease, especially if you aren’t following a diet or medication regime that could cause constipation.

Trouble walking: If you notice that you can’t swing your arms while walking as you used to, or that you have a stiff hip or shoulder, or that your feet seem stuck to the floor, or that you drag your feet while walking, it could be an early sign. However, bear in mind that such stiffness or pain could also be due to arthritis or an injury.

Dizziness: Everyone occasionally has a fit of dizziness, but if you regularly feel faint or dizzy every time you sit up or get out of bed, it could indicate early Parkinson’s.

Facial masking: Some Parkinson’s Disease patients experience a ‘masked face’ at the early stages of the disease. They may have a serious or depressed look on their faces all the time even if they don’t actually feel that way, or may blink more slowly than usual.

Soft voice: If people have been telling you that your voice has become unusually soft or hoarse, consult your doctor.

Monotonous voice: Another vocal change patients may experience is a loss in the variation and volume of their tone, leading to a monotonous sound.

Stooping/hunching over: Many patients start stooping or hunching over when they stand or walk, even if they don’t have any pain or injuries.

Psychological disorders: Since Parkinson’s Disease affects the body’s ability to produce dopamine, early signs can include changes in behaviour and mood, depression, anxiety, dementia or even psychosis.

Parkinson’s Disease is progressive, which means that its symptoms will worsen over time and the medication will become correspondingly less effective. For this reason, it’s essential to get diagnosed as early as possible so as to slow the progression. Don’t ignore these symptoms if they present — consult your doctor right away and agree on a plan of action for the best Parkinson’s Disease treatment in Bangalore. The sooner you start treatment, the longer your symptoms can be held at bay and the better the quality of life you will enjoy.