Early Warning Signs of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disease consisting of movement disorders. Early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include the following items:

• Tremor;
• Small Handwriting;
• Loss of smell;
• Voice changes;
• Sleep disorders;
• Slowness of movement;
• Changing of Facial Expression (Masked Face);
• Dizziness or Fainting.

According to statistics, there are approximately half a million patients with Parkinson’s disease in the United States. Parkinson’s disease begins in brain cells called neurons producing the chemical dopamine. In patients with this disease, neurons die, and the level of dopamine decreases accordingly leading to movement disorders.

Many people ignore the appearance of the first signs of Parkinson’s disease. They do not go to the doctor, so their health condition only worsens. However, the disease is considered severe and chronic. Timely treatment by a doctor can alleviate the course of symptoms, improve well-being and reduce the rate of development of the disease.

In this article, we will look at symptoms that can be observed at the onset of the development of Parkinson’s disease in a person.

1. Tremor

A person who has Parkinson’s disease may experience shivering. If you notice that your relative is shaking hands, fingers, or head at rest it’s a reason to consult a doctor. Tremor is one of the most сommon symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. So do not neglect the appearance of tremor in your relative.

When You Shouldn’t Worry?

It is worth considering that trembling may appear due to exercise, weight lifting, after injury, or be the result of a stressful condition. Another reason for the appearance of tremors can be medication. That’s why it is necessary to find out what kind of drugs have been taken lately before you start suspecting Parkinson’s disease.

2. Small Handwriting

One of the early signs of Parkinson’s disease can be changes in handwriting. Brain disorders in people with this disease lead to impaired coordination of movements. It affects fine motor skills and may manifest when the patient tries to write something.

As a rule, handwriting becomes small and crooked when people have Parkinson’s disease. In the beginning, only individual letters can be small, and the words become closer to each other.

When You Shouldn’t Worry?

However, do not worry and panic if you notice that your or your close person’s handwriting has become smaller than usual. It may be due to fatigue, age-related problems, or disease of the hands, which does not allow the fingers to be elastic and hold the pen comfortably. Visual impairment may also cause small handwriting. 

3. Loss of Smell

Among other non-obvious signs and symptoms of the onset of the development of Parkinson’s disease is the loss of smell. If you or your relative can’t smell well lately, you should make an appointment with a doctor and find out about the causes of this symptom.

When You Shouldn’t Worry?

Loss of smell is not the most common symptom of Parkinson’s disease. You can stop smelling for several reasons, such as colds, flu, nasal congestion, and allergic reactions. After treating the disorder that causes the loss of smell, the sense of smell will return to you.

4. Voice Changes

The voice becomes quiet or hoarse for Parkinson’s disease. Sometimes people close by the person with Parkinson’s disease begin their speech worse – this is because the patient has started to speak more quietly. If the person has voice changes for no reason, it is time to see a doctor find out why the voice has become quieter. 

When You Shouldn’t Worry?

Not only Parkinson’s disease can provoke voice changes. A person can have voice changes due to diseases of the larynx, viruses, colds, flu, and allergies. It is necessary to visit an otolaryngologist and an allergist to examine the larynx and trachea.

5. Sleep Disorders

Suppose you or your close person have been experiencing insomnia or twitching during deep sleep for a long time. It also can be one of the early signs of Parkinson’s disease. Pay attention to your sleep state and overall health. And also, visit a doctor’s consultation to find out the reason for the deterioration in sleep.

When You Shouldn’t Worry?

Not always a sleepless night means the onset of Parkinson’s disease. It may be due to fatigue, daytime sleep, or worries about something. Sleep twitches are also sometimes considered normal. Therefore, first, ask about the experiences of your relative and his well-being. If he has problems with these aspects, help solve them.

6. Slowness of Movement

Slow walking and stiffness in the body may be symptoms of developing Parkinson’s disease. Some patients claim that they feel stiffness or pain in the arms and shoulders at the beginning of the disease. And it became difficult to walk due to heaviness in the legs.

When You Shouldn’t Worry?

Injuries to the arm or shoulder become a barrier to their full functioning. Also, one of the causes of pain or stiffness can be a disease such as arthritis. To find out the reason for your problem, try to remember if you have had any injuries lately and then visit a surgeon or traumatologist.

7. Changing of Facial Expression (Masked Face)

Occasionally people start to notice that they or their relative have a very serious or depressed face that looks like a mask and hasn’t been there before. It can be one of the first symptoms of Parkinson’s. 

When You Shouldn’t Worry?

Some drugs, stress and fatigue can cause a stony facial expression. Therefore, before suspecting Parkinson’s disease, try to find out why you or your relative may have a stone facial expression.

8. Dizziness or Fainting

Dizziness and fainting may also indicate the development of Parkinson’s disease. It can happen as a result of a drop in blood pressure. If you have this symptom, you need to consult a specialist to determine if you have any disease and get timely treatment.

When You Shouldn’t Worry?

It may be expected if you sometimes feel dizzy, especially if you are hypotonic. It can also be a result of poor nutrition, oxygen starvation, and physical or emotional overstrain. Review your diet and lifestyle before you start to connect your symptoms with Parkinson’s disease.

What to Do if You Suspect Having Parkinson’s Disease

If you suspect that you or your close person develops Parkinson’s disease, you need to contact a neurologist. He will ask all the necessary questions regarding your health and lifestyle. Then he will refer you for diagnostics, which will allow you to find out why you or your relative doesn’t feel well. 

Our Lone Star Neurology clinic deals with the treatment of neurological diseases. Among the diseases treated by our highly qualified specialists are the following:

• Parkinson’s disease;
• Alzheimer’s disease;
• Epilepsy;
• Migraine;
• Stroke;
• Multiple sclerosis;
• Diabetic neuropathy;
• and other.

Go to our website and view the complete list of diseases that are within our clinical practice. Also, you can read our interesting and useful articles about different kinds of diseases and their treatment. Contact our experts if you need help. 

Bottom Line 

It’s worth saying that it is important not to miss the possible onset of the development of Parkinson’s disease. To do this, you should pay attention to these symptoms. However, don’t panic after your signs and symptoms match those of Parkinson’s disease. Some disorders may have similar symptoms. To accurately establish the diagnosis, you need to contact a neurologist. 

FAQ 

• What is usually the first symptom of Parkinson’s disease?

People in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease often have a tremor. It is worth consulting with a specialist as soon as possible.

• At what age does Parkinson’s disease usually appear?

Younger people very rarely develop Parkinson’s disease. Most often, it occurs in middle or old age, after 60 years.

• How can I test myself for Parkinson’s?

There are no special laboratory tests or diagnostics to detect Parkinson’s disease. You can tell your doctor about your symptoms which will help to make a diagnosis. 

• What do early Parkinson’s tremors look like?

In the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, you can feel like your leg is shaking. And usually, the tremor covers only one side at the beginning. For example, you can notice that only your left hand started to shake. Then all the body parts start shaking.

• Does Parkinson’s affect handwriting?

Yes, Parkinson’s disease affects the patient’s handwriting. Often enough people with Parkinson’s disease can notice that their handwriting has become crooked. Usually, it includes a small font and a close arrangement of letters to each other.