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Fatigue
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Insomnia
Bouts of insomnia don’t necessarily mean that you have Parkinson’s disease. However, be aware that a large number of those suffering from this disease have trouble sleeping. They find it difficult to fall asleep, wake several times during the night, and tend to wake too early in the morning.
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REM sleep behaviour disorder
Five to seven years prior to the manifestation of common Parkinson’s symptoms, some patients develop REM sleep behaviour disorder. They suffer from agitated sleep, even throwing violent punches as if being attacked. Upon waking, they have no memory of their nighttime behaviour.
Loss of the sense of smell
Nearly 90% of those with Parkinson’s lose their sense of smell (a condition known as hyposmia) up to 10 years before more definitive symptoms of the disease appear. Patients have difficulty recognizing and distinguishing between odours.
Depression
Approximately one in four people with Parkinson’s disease suffer from depression. Considered an early sign, such depression may set in before patients have even received an official Parkinson’s diagnosis from their doctors.
Involuntary drooling
Half of all Parkinson’s patients have difficulty managing their saliva. The disease weakens the muscles responsible for swallowing, and sufferers become unable to prevent saliva from running out of their mouths, a potentially embarrassing problem.
Anxiety
Upon learning they have Parkinson’s, some patients develop anxiety. This absolutely normal reaction tends to increase as symptoms become more apparent. For others, anxiety may result from changes in brain chemistry. In effect, Parkinson’s disease alters the neural network that controls mood.
Excessive perspiration
Some people suffering from Parkinson’s may begin to sweat profusely (a condition known as hyperhidrosis) from all parts of their body. They produce so much perspiration during the day, for instance, that they may have difficulty holding on to a steering wheel due to slippery hands.
Trembling
While trembling hands, feet, and jaws are the most familiar symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, only two-thirds of sufferers experience this problem. In many cases, trembling occurs when patients are seated or otherwise immobile, disappearing as soon as they stand or move.
Balance problems
It’s not unusual for those with Parkinson’s disease to have difficulty maintaining their balance when changing position. This symptom is caused by the degeneration of nerve cells in areas of the brain that control balance. During the first phases of the disease, balance problems are rather mild, but as the illness progresses, the risk of falling increases.
Constipation
If you’ve started to have fewer bowel movements or find that voiding your bowels has become more difficult than usual, you may have constipation. Many things can cause constipation, including Parkinson’s disease. Constipation is particularly troublesome for patients taking medication because it reduces the rate at which the body absorbs medicine.
Bladder problems
Bladder problems, caused by a lack of dopamine, manifest in many ways among those suffering from Parkinson’s. In addition to feeling the need to urinate frequently at all hours, some patients also experience incontinence and tend to feel as though they haven’t completely emptied their bladder after using the toilet.
Slow movements (bradykinesia)
Several Parkinson’s sufferers note a slowing of their movements. They may have difficulty, for example, buttoning their coat, brushing their teeth, or cutting vegetables. In the first stages of the disease, bradykinesia usually affects only one side of the body. The condition then progressively moves to the other half of the body. The reduction in dopamine caused by Parkinson’s disease lies at the root of these symptoms.
Difficulty perceiving others’ emotions
Some with Parkinson’s disease suffer from impaired emotional prosody. They find it difficult to decode the emotional state of those with whom they interact. They may not, for example, understand a joke or sarcastic remark uttered during a conversation.
Rigid movements
Many Parkinson’s sufferers involuntarily adopt a slouched posture caused by muscular stiffness that frequently affects the spinal column. They may also experience painful muscle cramps that hinder movement.
Small handwriting
Prior to the appearance of more obvious motor problems, Parkinson’s sufferers may exhibit small handwriting (or micrographia). The size of their letters will tend to diminish as they continue writing. The spaces between their words and letters may also shrink.
Dysphagia
Although primarily present during the advanced stages of Parkinson’s, dysphagia can also occur during the first phases of the disease. Dysphagia is characterized by a difficulty swallowing that hinders hydration and eating. In some cases, food may enter the lungs and result in serious complications.
Seborrheic dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin disease in which red patches and white or yellow scales form on the face. While it frequently affects young adults, it can also manifest among Parkinson’s patients. The red patches primarily appear on the upper lip, near the eyebrows, and on the scalp.
Freezing
Freezing often manifests unexpectedly when Parkinson’s patients are walking. Those suffering from this symptom have difficulty starting to walk or are unable to continue walking. Their feet seem stuck to the ground. Freezing tends to occur when stepping onto or off of elevators or escalators and in locations with lots of obstacles.
