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7 early and noticeable signs of Parkinsons disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder primarily affecting the nerves communicating signals from the brain. An intricate network of nerves runs throughout the body carrying electrical impulses and signals to control a specific part or function. Parkinson’s disrupts these communication channels, making it difficult to control automatic reflexes and movements. It is only possible to manage Parkinson’s with early diagnosis as the disease has no cure.

Tremors
One of the first signs of developing Parkinson’s is tremors. People might experience different intensities of this motor function, but often, resting tremors are the first indicators of the neurological disorder. Resting tremors develop when the body is active and subside when the body is at rest. For example, one might not notice the tremors while using the hand actively. But when the hand is in a rested position, these tremors develop abruptly and are more noticeable while walking or sitting.

Tremors that get worse with time start to interfere with regular activities like writing or shaving, among other actions that require fine gross motor skills. The uncontrolled shaking starts with just the thumb or one of the fingers, usually affecting one hand. However, the intensity of these tremors varies depending on how quickly the condition progresses.

Problems with balance
Parkinson’s mainly affects the coordination between the brain and the body, disrupting vital signals that control gross motor skills. Simple activities like standing or walking will become difficult over time. This occurs because the neurological disorder triggers changes in sensory perception that mainly affects one’s gait and posture. Simply put, people with Parkinson’s find it extremely difficult to control the speed and intensity of their movements. Some people experience bradykinesia (slow movements) or hypokinesia (fast movements) with no control. It becomes difficult to maintain balance with abrupt starting or stopping and even completing a movement properly before starting the next step. Loss of these motor control skills makes it difficult for people with Parkinson’s to lead a normal life.

Decreased ability to perform automatic movements
The nerves control all the automatic movements in the body that require no supervision. In layman’s terms, these are natural reflexes that are preprogrammed and controlled by the brain. For example, blinking, smiling, swinging of the arms while walking, swallowing, breathing, and even focusing to improve vision happen automatically. However, Parkinson’s progressive symptoms destroy vital nerve communications and impact this automation. Once the nerves are severed, it becomes difficult to restore these natural reflexes. In fact, one of the more glaring signs of developing Parkinson’s is the decreased ability to swing arms with the feet while walking. These changes are noticeable and immediate attention is advisable to determine the underlying trigger. Early diagnosis can still help overcome these difficulties to improve quality of life.

Changes in speech
People with Parkinson’s begin to develop a monotone voice as they are no longer able to modulate their speech. This happens when the nerve center that controls speech is impaired due to the progression of Parkinson’s disease. People also tend to speak at a lower volume and are unable to convey emotions. Talking slowly, being unable to complete a sentence properly, mumbling between sentences, stuttering, or slurring all indicate disease progression. Some people even develop a hoarse voice, among other symptoms. Speech impairment is just the beginning of motor skill problems, as Parkinson’s patients also struggle with expression. Poor facial muscle control can result in abrupt or incomprehensive expressions that don’t necessarily relate to the situation.

Changes in posture
Muscle rigidity and stiffness tend to limit the range of motion. But with Parkinson’s, these symptoms are more noticeable as the affected person develops a stooped or hunched-over posture. Understand that maintaining posture and balance is also one of the automatic movements controlled by the brain. For example, signaling neck or upper back pain automatically allows the body to correct posture to sit or stand upright. This task becomes difficult with Parkinson’s as the nerve communications are interrupted, forcing the body to remain in the stooped posture. Poor posture with Parkinson’s further increases the risk of falls and misalignment of the spinal curve and impacts basic tasks. Some patients even struggle with changing their clothes or getting out of a chair due to these changes in posture.

Loss of sleep
Neurological conditions like Parkinson’s present a number of discomforts that will affect quality sleep. Symptoms like tremors, restless leg syndrome, and muscle stiffness make it difficult for a person to rest properly. Many patients may act out in their sleep triggered by a dream or nightmare. This type of behavior is quite odd and should not be ignored. Lack of sleep at night increases the risk of extreme daytime fatigue and sleepiness that disrupts the entire routine. Restlessness affects a person’s normal sleep-wake cycle and increases the risk of other health complications. These symptoms also overlap with other known neurological complications. So, a thorough diagnosis is necessary to confirm if it is Parkinson’s.

Changes in handwriting
Micrographia is another associated symptom of Parkinson’s that triggers changes in handwriting. In fact, studies are conclusive of the fact that changes in handwriting are mainly triggered due to bradykinesia and hypokinesia combined, impacting hand muscle movements. For example, one might notice that their handwriting has gotten smaller recently or the alphabets look grouped, too close for comprehension. In addition, the developing tremors and stiffness of muscles make it difficult to grab a pen and write properly. All these changes are noticeable and progress quickly if left unchecked.

In any case, if either of the symptoms develops and progresses quickly, it is advisable to consult with a doctor to identify and manage the possible triggers with different treatment methods. Early diagnosis is the only way one can improve the outlook for progressive neurological symptoms.

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