Early symptoms of Parkinson's disease begin gradually. Usually the patient feels fatigue, general malaise. Some people can celebrate unsteadiness of gait, difficulty standing up from his chair. In patients with marked twang, small trembling hand. In addition, a loss of thoughts, words in a sentence. Patients may be irritable or depressed for no apparent reason. The early period may last a relatively long time before you have any classic symptoms of the disease.
A person with such a patient is no expression in the form of a mask. The patient may remain for a long time in a certain position.
With the progression of the disease in most patients appear unsteadiness and tremor. Patients can not keep things normal, reading newspapers or books because of hand tremor becomes difficult. Tremor they become stronger when they are relaxed.
The main symptoms of Parkinson's disease
The disease begins in different patients in different ways. For some, it progresses rapidly, and some do not. Although some patients the severe disturbances in the motor area, while others may only be a minor violation. Tremor is the major symptom of a certain number of patients, while another group of patients expressed little tremors and other symptoms predominate.
Tremor. Tremor in Parkinson's disease has certain properties. Usually takes the form of rhythmic tremor movements forward - backward thumb and index finger three times a second. Sometimes this symptom is called "rolling ball". Usually starts with a hand tremor, although it also happens. That first tremor struck the foot or lower jaw. This is most clearly manifested in the symptom of a relaxed patient or vice versa, when he was under stress. In three out of four patients with tremor affects only one part or side of the body, especially in the early stages of the disease. Subsequently, the main symptom is tremor. Tremor is rarely stops, and usually disappears during sleep. Tremor in Parkinson's disease should be distinguished from senile tremor, in which there is no sign of disease such as muscular rigidity.
Rigidity. Rigidity, or stiffness affects the majority of patients with Parkinson's disease. The main principle of the movement of all muscles of the body is that each muscle has an opposing muscle. Movement is possible not only due to the activity of a muscle, but also due to relaxation of opposing muscles. In patients with Parkinson's is not the balance of the mutual activity of these muscles, causing stiffness and comes. muscles are always in a state of tension and the patient feels weak and tired. Rigidity becomes obvious when you try to, for example, moving the patient's hand. Movement in this case are as it were broken (so-called "phenomenon of gear").
Bradykinesia. Bradykinesia, or slowness of movement in patients with Parkinson's disease are unpredictable. In a time of motion is given to the patient easily. The next moment he may need help. This symptom can be an exhausting sick, because it denies the possibility of rapidly perform routine movements. normal activity - such as washing or dressing - may take a few hours sometimes.
Impaired coordination. Loss of coordination in such patients is that they often can not be sustained in any position and can easily fall. For example, if such a patient to push the front, it will be compelling to move back and eventually drop. This phenomenon is called retropulsiya. In addition, patients with Parkinson's disease, there may be slouching, with his head tilted at them, and the shoulders dropped. As the disease progresses patients develop foot disorders. Patients may be in a state of torpor. Or they may be walking with short steps.
Other symptoms of Parkinson's disease
Parkinsonism is characterized, and many other symptoms besides the above. Some of them are less common, some of the more frequent and more pronounced. Many of them were subjected to drug therapy. No one can predict which symptoms will develop in a particular patient, and to what extent.
Depression. This is the most common symptom in all patients with Parkinson's disease. It can manifest itself in the early stages of the disease, even when other symptoms are not noticeable. Depression is usually moderately expressed, but its intensity increases with the use of drugs in the treatment of other symptoms. Fortunately, this symptom is easily treated.
Changes in the emotional sphere. Some patients with Parkinson's may experience fearfulness and uncertainty. They are afraid that will not cope with any situation. They do not want to travel, attend social events. Some patients lose motivation. They become dependent on family members. Some become irritable and pessimistic. There is loss of memory and a slowing of judgment, even though the capacity for judgment they have saved. To date, remains a controversial issue of intellectual change in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Difficulty swallowing and chewing. In the later stages of the disease may experience dysfunction of the masticatory muscles. In this case, food accumulates in the mouth and saliva, which can be caught in the throat and cause choking. This problem is often facilitated by medical treatment.
Changes in speech. About half of patients with Parkinson's have problems with speech. At the same time they noted nasal, monotone speech. They may stumble, there has been indiscriminate words, or, conversely, the frequency.
Problems with the physiological functions (incontinence and constipation). Some patients with Parkinson's may experience dysregulation of smooth muscle of the bladder and intestines. This is manifested, for example, incontinence, and others may have difficulty with urination. In some patients, constipation may be due to slowing of the intestines.
Constipation can also occur due to a specific diet or eating small amounts of fluid.
Challenges to the skin. Typically, patients with Parkinson's disease is marked oiliness of the skin in the facial area, especially the forehead and nose. In addition, a fat content of the scalp, causing dandruff appears. In other cases, the skin, on the contrary, it is very dry. These changes are associated with the violation of the autonomic nervous system. Another problem in these patients is sweating. These symptoms are relieved by medical therapy.
Sleep problems. These include insomnia, restless sleep, nightmares and daytime sleepiness.
