Signs and Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease affects people’s voluntary and involuntary motor skills. It usually starts on one side of the body and gradually gets more severe over time. Some people are more affected than others, but it can affect anyone. Parkinson’s disease causes the death of dopamine-producing cells in the brain. The symptoms are slow to appear, which can result in an irreversible loss of cells by the time they manifest.

• Tremors: this includes trembling of the fingers, hands, arms, feet, legs and head. This will be worse when you’re not doing anything but might stop when you’re involved in a task. The tremors can also get worse if you’re feeling excited, tired or stressed.

• Rigidity may be present in the limbs and trunk, which can increase with motion. This can cause stiffness and pain, along with muscle aches. It also affects the hands to produce micrographia which can make it hard to eat well.

• Bradykinesia: A condition marked by slowness in voluntary movements. Over time, it may become more and more difficult to initiate and complete movements. Bradykinesia also comes with stiffness and can affect facial muscles, making expressions less noticeable.

• Impaired reflexes can lead to instability – so balance is difficult. This postural instability may lead to falls.

• Parkinsonian gait: Individuals with more progressive Parkinson’s disease develop a distinctive walk where they rely on impaired arm swing and less of their body weight is placed on the front leg, causing it to be more bent. Some symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease include stiffness and tremors. It can make it tough to walk, as well as make pivoting and turning difficult.