What are the Common Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system. It causes tremors and affects movement. The damaged nerve cell in the brain causes dopamine (a compound present in our body that acts as a neurotransmitter of other substances) levels to drop down drastically leading to the symptoms of Parkinson’s. It often starts with a tremor in one hand. Other noticeable symptoms include stiffness and slow and unsteady movement. Senior loved ones above the age of 60 are at the risk of falling prey to the hands of this dreadful disease. According to various kinds of research, Parkinson’s disease is more common in men than women.

Today, let us have a close look at some of the common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease:-

Tremor or shaking:-
This is the most common symptom of Parkinson’s disease.  The tremor usually starts in the hands and gradually spreads to other parts of the body. Earthquakes can also happen during rest.

Slow Movement:-
You may often notice that your senior loved one suffering from Parkinson’s is taking more time to complete a simple task. This is because Parkinson’s disease gradually slows a person’s movement. Your loved one may find it challenging to get up from a chair or he/ she may have to drag their feet while walking and have an unsteady gait due to a balance problem.

Stiff Muscles:-
Parkinson’s causes muscle stiffness that can affect any part of the body and causes limited range of motion and is painful.

Difficulty swallowing food and Drooling:-
Many senior people suffering from Parkinson’s disease find it difficult to swallow food and make facial expressions like smiling, yawning, etc. They may also face problems when blinking their eyes, and swinging their arms while walking. Drooling happens due to a loss of facial muscle control.

Change in Speech:- 
Your beloved senior’s speech can be affected by this disease. Their speech can become low, slurred, quick, and monotone without any inflection (the modulation of intonation or pitch in the voice.

Change in writing:-
People with Parkinson’s disease may find it difficult to write and their handwriting becomes unusually small and cramped. This handwriting change due to this disease is known as micrographia.

Managing Parkinson’s disease:-
Parkinson’s disease has no cure but medications can help to control the symptoms. Doctors usually prescribe medicines to increase Dopamine levels in the brain.  Deep brain stimulation, a method that uses a small device placed in the chest to deliver mild electrical shocks to the part of the brain that has been damaged is also proving effective for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, You can avail of rehab assistance services from an elder care service providers in Kolkata for your senior loved ones to make them feel comfortable and relaxed. Yoga, Aerobics, and lifestyle changes can also help seniors with Parkinson’s disease lead a normal and comfortable life.

This blog focuses on the common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and highlights how to manage it to help your beloved seniors lead a normal and relaxing life.