Parkinsons Symptoms

Parkinson’s is a progressive, degenerative disease that worsens with time. It is also a highly individualized disease that is experienced differently by every patient. Parkinson's disease was first described in England in 1817 by Dr. The disease affects approximately 2 of every 1,000 people and most often develops after age 50.? It is one of the most common neurologic disorders of the elderly.

Parkinsons disease is caused by the loss of brain cells that produce a chemical called dopamine, resulting in low levels of the chemical in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical messenger, or neurotransmitter, involved in passing messages within the brain and from the brain to the muscles. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system which limits mobility. Symptoms include postural instability, gait difficulty, tremors, rigidity, and general slowing of movement. Parkinsons disease affects people of all races, socioeconomic levels and geographic regions. After Alzheimer’s disease it is the second most common neurodegenerative disease.

Parkinson's disease usually strikes in late middle age, affecting people over the age of 50. The average age of onset is 60 years — only five to 10 percent of people suffering from Parkinson's are under the age of 40. Parkinson's can be a very devastating disorder. Not just for the people who experience it, but also their relatives. Parkinson disease occurs in people all over the world, with the incidence in men slightly higher than in women. Caucasians have a higher incidence of the disease than people of other races.

Parkinsons symptoms include varying degrees of dementia, psychosis, diminished assertiveness and confidence, general fatigue, excessive daytime sleepiness, problems with blood pressure, sweating, and bladder, and a common yet difficult to define sense of not feeling well. Parkinson's disease can have a variable onset. One of the first Parkinsons symtoms is a tremor in one of the hands. Parkinson's disease does eventually cause a wide range of symptoms and complications.

Parkinson's disease is frequently associated with depressive symptoms. When depression occurs at early stages and before the onset of characteristic motor symptoms of the disease, differential diagnosis of major depression may be difficult. Parkinson’s Disease is a disorder of muscle and movement control that is usually very manageable and controllable. About 20% of patients develop dementia, including loss of memory and other cognitive functions. Parkinson's disease affects each individual differently and each person with the condition will have a different collection of Parkinsons symptoms and respond differently to treatment. The severity of symptoms also differs between individuals with the condition.

Gradual Increasing Symptoms

Initial symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are subtle and occur gradually. Parkinson's disease often becomes increasingly disabling over time. If you suffer from Parkinson's disease you may have trouble performing daily activities such as rising from a chair or moving across a room. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that causes an overall slowness and difficulty with moving.

Patients share their treatments and outcomes not just to help themselves, but to help others. Become part of making a difference for everyone with Parkinsons today. Patients with Parkinson’s disease may benefit from physical therapy, occupational therapy, exercise, and speech therapy. Patients' individual Parkinsons symptoms may be quite dissimilar and progression of the disease is also distinctly individual.