Sometimes it is hard to tell that you might have Parkinson'sdisease. Parkinson's disease is when your brain stops making an important
chemical called dopamine. This chemical helps your body to move,
and helps your mood. If you do have Parkinson's, you can feel better by
taking a pill that helps your body to replace that chemical. Parkinson's
disease will get worse slowly over time, and your doctor can help you stay
healthy longer. Some of the problems listed here could be signs of Parkinson's
disease.
No single one of these signs means that you
should worry about Parkinson's disease. If you have more than
one symptom, you should make an appointment to talk to your doctor.
·
Work with
your doctor to create a plan to stay healthy. This plan might include:
·
A
referral to a neurologist, a doctor who specializes in the brain
·
Care from
an occupational therapist, physical therapist or speech therapist
·
Meeting
with a medical social worker to talk about how Parkinson's will affect your
life
·
Start a
regular exercise program to delay further symptoms.
·
Talk with
family and friends who can provide you with the support you need.
Have you noticed a slight shaking or tremor in
your finger, thumb, hand, chin or lip? Does your leg shake when you sit down or
relax? Twitching or shaking of limbs is a common early sign of Parkinson’s
disease.
Small Handwriting
Has your handwriting suddenly gotten much smaller
than in it was in the past? You may notice the way you write words on a page
has changed, such as letter sizes are smaller and the words are crowded
together. A sudden change in handwriting is often a sign of Parkinson’s
disease.
Loss of Smell
Have you noticed you no longer smell certain foods
very well? If you seem to have more trouble smelling foods like bananas,
dill pickles or licorice, you should ask your doctor about Parkinson’s disease.
Trouble Sleeping
Do you thrash around in bed or kick and punch while
you are deeply asleep? You might notice that you started falling out of bed
while asleep. Sometimes, your spouse will notice, or will want to move to
another bed. Sudden movements during sleep may be a sign of Parkinson’s
disease.
Do you feel stiff in your body, arms or legs?
Sometimes stiffness goes away as you move. If it does not, it can be a sign of
Parkinson’s disease. You might notice that your arms don’t swing when you walk,
or maybe other people have said you look stiff. An early sign might be
stiffness or pain in your shoulder or hips. People sometimes say their feet
seem ‘stuck to the floor.
Constipation
Do you have trouble moving your bowels without
straining every day? Straining to move your bowels can be an early sign of
Parkinson’s disease and you should talk to your doctor.
A Soft or Low Voice
Have other people told you that your voice is very
soft when you speak in a normal tone, or that you sound hoarse? If there has been
a change in your voice you should see your doctor about whether it could be
Parkinson’s disease. Sometimes you might think other people are losing their
hearing, when really you are speaking more softly.
Masked Face
Have you been told that you have a serious,
depressed or mad look on your face more often, even when you are not in a bad
mood? This serious looking face is called masking. Also, if you or other people
notice that you have a blank stare or do not blink your eyes very often, you
should ask your doctor about Parkinson’s disease.
Dizziness or Fainting
Do you notice that you often feel dizzy when you
stand up out of a chair? Feeling dizzy or fainting can be signs of low blood
pressure and can be linked to Parkinson’s disease.
Stooping or Hunching Over
Are you not standing up as straight as you used to?
If you or your family or friends notice that you seem to be stooping, leaning
or slouching when you stand, it could be a sign of Parkinson’s disease.
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