Symptoms of Parkinson's

Parkinson's is a neurological and chronic illness that causes debilitating symptoms, and these symptoms become more pronounced over the years. Quite a few experts think that what activates Parkinson's are environmental conditions and genetic factors. At the onset of Parkinson's someone may experience light tremors, lethargy, stress or a feeling of sadness for which there is no explanation. Stronger symptoms appear as time goes by and may include the following:

Shaking

• A common symptom of Parkinson's is tremor that first manifests in the hand, foot or jaw, although tremors may not affect some people with Parkinson's.

Stiffness

• Due to a muscle imbalance caused by Parkinson's, a person with Parkinson's may have trouble moving.

Bradykinesia

• People with Parkinson's will find that they suffer from Bradykinesia, which is an inability to automatically move. Bradykinesia will make simple routine tasks complicated for people with Parkinson's.

Loss of Balance

• People afflicted with Parkinson's lose their ability to maintain balance and must safeguard themselves from falling.

Eating Problems

• Because muscles are affected by Parkinson's, the muscles in the throat may make swallowing food difficult and may cause choking. Drooling may also occur.

Difficulty Speaking

• The manner in which someone with Parkinson's speaks becomes altered in time. People with Parkinson's may talk in a very low tone of voice, their speech may speed up and sound unclear, or they may repeat what they say.