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Symptoms of Parkinson Disease

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder in which nerve cells in the brain break down, causing a variety of symptoms. Parkinson's disease is not well understood by medical researchers, but it seems to be related to the amount of a chemical called dopamine found in the brain. The symptoms of Parkinson's disease differ from person to person, but they generally begin on one side of the body.

  1. Tremors

    • People with Parkinson's disease will experience a shaking that, in most instances, starts in the hands. These tremors happen to the individual when he is awake and standing still or sitting. This shaking can also affect an arm or a leg, but many people with Parkinson's will not have this symptom to the degree that it is extensive.

    Muscle stiffness

    • A frequently seen sign of early Parkinson's disease is muscle stiffness. Muscles that chronically ache can be a sign. Arm, leg, neck, and facial muscles can all be affected. When the arm muscles are afflicted, the individual will walk with a lessened swinging of the arm on one side of the body.

    Bradykinesia

    • Bradykinesia is a medical term that refers to a person's difficulty in attempting to start a voluntary movement. For example, someone with bradykinesia will walk with a series of short, shuffling steps and may find it hard to take the first step. This particular symptom of Parkinson's disease makes nearly every task extremely hard to perform.

    Loss of unconscious movements

    • A person with Parkinson's disease may find that automatic movements--such as blinking and smiling--can no longer be accomplished. This results in blank expressions and eyes that don't blink. People with this symptom will lose the ability to become animated while speaking.

    Loss of balance

    • Keeping one's balance becomes more difficult as Parkinson's disease progresses. The condition will also give someone suffering from it a stooped posture

    Speech problems

    • Speaking quietly or in a monotone voice is not uncommon for Parkinson's patients. He may repeat words often, slur words, or she may even hesitate momentarily before being able to say something.

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