Parkinson's Disease (cont.)
What are the Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease?
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 Parkinson's disease. 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 Parkinson's disease 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).
Parkinson's disease 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.
Parkinson's disease 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. The four primary symptoms of Parkinson's disease are:
- Tremor. The tremor associated with
Parkinson's disease has a
characteristic appearance. Typically, the tremor takes the form of a rhythmic
back-and-forth motion at a rate of 4-6 beats per second. It may involve the
thumb and forefinger and appear as a "pill rolling" tremor. Tremor often begins
in a hand, although sometimes a foot or the jaw is affected first. It is most
obvious when the hand is at rest or when a person is under stress. For example,
the shaking may become more pronounced a few seconds after the hands are rested
on a table. Tremor usually disappears during
sleep or improves with intentional movement.
- Rigidity. Rigidity, or a resistance to movement,
affects most people with Parkinson's disease. A major principle of body movement is that all
muscles have an opposing muscle. Movement is possible not just because one muscle becomes more active,
but because the opposing muscle relaxes. In Parkinson's disease, rigidity comes about when, in
response to signals from the brain, the delicate balance of opposing muscles is
disturbed. The muscles remain constantly tensed and contracted so that the
person aches or feels stiff or weak. The rigidity becomes obvious when another
person tries to move the patient's arm, which will move only in ratchet-like or
short, jerky movements known as "cogwheel" rigidity.
- Bradykinesia. Bradykinesia, or the slowing down and loss of spontaneous and
automatic movement, is particularly frustrating because it may make simple tasks
somewhat difficult. The person cannot rapidly perform routine movements.
Activities once performed quickly and easily — such as washing or dressing — may
take several hours.
- Postural instability. Postural instability, or
impaired balance, causes patients to fall easily. Affected people also may
develop a stooped posture in
which the head is bowed and the shoulders are drooped.
A number of other symptoms may accompany Parkinson's disease. Some are minor; others are not.
Many can be treated with medication or physical therapy. No one can predict
which symptoms will affect an individual patient, and the intensity of the
symptoms varies from person to person.
- Depression. This is a common problem and may appear
early in the course of the disease, even before other symptoms are noticed.
Fortunately, depression usually can be successfully treated with antidepressant
medications.
- Emotional changes. Some people with Parkinson's disease become fearful and insecure. Perhaps
they fear they cannot cope with new situations. They may not want to travel, go
to parties, or socialize with friends. Some lose their motivation and become
dependent on family members. Others may become irritable or uncharacteristically
pessimistic.
- Difficulty with swallowing and chewing. Muscles used
in swallowing may work less efficiently in later stages of the disease. In these
cases, food and saliva may collect in the mouth and back of the throat, which can result in
choking or drooling.
These problems also may make it difficult to get adequate
nutrition.
Speech-language therapists, occupational therapists, and dieticians can often
help with these problems.
- Speech changes. About half of all Parkinson's disease patients have problems with speech.
They may speak too softly or in a monotone, hesitate before speaking, slur or
repeat their words, or speak too fast. A
speech therapist may be able to help
patients reduce some of these problems.
- Urinary problems or constipation. In some patients,
bladder and bowel
problems can occur due to the improper functioning of the autonomic nervous
system, which is responsible for regulating
smooth muscle activity. Some people
may become incontinent, while others have trouble urinating. In others,
constipation may occur because the intestinal tract operates more slowly.
Constipation can also be caused by inactivity, eating a poor diet, or drinking
too little fluid. The medications used to treat Parkinson's disease also can contribute to
constipation. It can be a persistent problem and, in rare cases, can be serious
enough to require hospitalization.
- Skin problems. In Parkinson's disease, it is common for the skin on the
face to become very oily, particularly on the forehead and at the sides of the
nose. The scalp may become oily too, resulting in
dandruff. In other cases, the skin can become very
dry. These problems are also the result of an improperly functioning autonomic
nervous system. Standard treatments for skin problems can help. Excessive
sweating, another common symptom, is usually controllable with medications used
for Parkinson's disease.
- Sleep problems.
Sleep problems common in
Parkinson's disease include difficulty staying
asleep at night, restless sleep, nightmares and emotional dreams, and drowsiness
or sudden sleep onset during the day. Patients with Parkinson's disease should never take
over-the-counter sleep aids without consulting their physicians.
- Dementia or other cognitive problems. Some, but not
all, people with Parkinson's disease may develop memory problems and slow thinking. In some of these cases, cognitive
problems become more severe, leading to a condition called Parkinson's
dementia
late in the course of the disease. This dementia may affect memory, social
judgment, language, reasoning, or other mental skills. There is currently no way
to halt Parkinson's disease dementia, but studies have shown that a drug called
rivastigmine
(Exelon) may
slightly reduce the symptoms. The drug
donepezil (Aricept,
Aricept ODT) also can reduce behavioral
symptoms in some people with Parkinson's disease-related dementia.
- Orthostatic hypotension.
Orthostatic hypotension is a
sudden drop in blood pressure when
a person stands up from a lying-down position. This may cause
dizziness,
lightheadedness, and, in extreme cases, loss of balance or
fainting.
Studies have suggested that, in Parkinson's disease, this problem results from a loss of nerve
endings in the sympathetic nervous system that controls
heart rate, blood
pressure, and other automatic functions in the body. The medications used to
treat Parkinson's disease also may contribute to this symptom.
- Muscle cramps and
dystonia. The rigidity and lack of normal movement
associated with Parkinson's disease often causes
muscle cramps, especially in the legs and toes.
Massage, stretching, and applying heat may help with these cramps. Parkinson's
disease also can
be associated with dystonia — sustained muscle contractions that cause forced or
twisted positions. Dystonia in Parkinson's disease is often caused by fluctuations in the body's
level of dopamine. It can usually be relieved or reduced by adjusting the
person's medications.
- Pain. Many people with Parkinson's disease develop aching muscles and
joints because of the rigidity and abnormal postures often associated with the
disease. Treatment with levodopa
(Sinemet) and other dopaminergic drugs often alleviates
these pains to some extent. Certain exercises also may help. People with
Parkinson's disease also
may develop pain due to compression of nerve roots or dystonia-related muscle spasms. In rare
cases, people with Parkinson's disease may develop unexplained burning, stabbing sensations. This
type of pain, called "central pain," originates in the brain. Dopaminergic
drugs, opiates, antidepressants, and other types of drugs may all be used to
treat this type of pain.
- Fatigue and loss of energy. The unusual demands of
living with Parkinson's disease often lead to problems with fatigue, especially late in the day.
Fatigue may be associated with depression or sleep disorders, but it also may result from
muscle stress or from overdoing activity when the person feels well. Fatigue
also may result from akinesia – trouble initiating or carrying out movement.
Exercise, good sleep habits, staying mentally active, and not forcing too many
activities in a short time may help to alleviate fatigue.
- Sexual dysfunction. Parkinson's disease often causes
erectile dysfunction
because of its effects on nerve signals from the brain or because of poor blood
circulation.
Parkinson's disease-related depression or use of antidepressant medication also may cause
decreased sex drive and other problems. These problems are often treatable.
Next: What Other Diseases Resemble Parkinson's? »
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