How to Recognize the Signs of Parkinson's Disease
Edited by Maluniu, Maniac, Chris, Genius_knight and 3 others
Parkinson's disease is a condition in which the brain stops producing regular amounts of dopamine, which controls our motor skills and impacts the central nervous system. Those who suffer from it can experience a variety of physical problems, including slower movements and difficulty controlling muscles.
Since Parkinson's disease progresses over time, knowing its signs and symptoms can help you determine if you need to seek treatment and obtain a proper diagnosis. Continue reading to learn how to recognize the signs of Parkinson's disease.
Have a look at this slideshow to gain a greater understanding of this often most puzzling condition. Very well laid out.
http://www.medicinenet.com/parkinsons_disease_pictures_slideshow/article.htm
ANC News Australia - As many as 25 per cent of patients who are told they have Parkinson's disease actually have other degenerative brain illnesses, prompting Australian doctors to investigate more accurate ways to diagnose the illness.
Key points:
Steps
Evaluate existing tremors and shakes.
o Tremors and shakes will usually begin in the limbs such as legs, hands and arms and may eventually lead to tremors of the mouth, lips, chin and fingers.
o Rubbing your thumb and forefinger together is a common behavior of Parkinson's disease.
o Tremors and shakes will usually occur when you are relaxing and sitting down.
o Shaking is considered normal after exercising or getting injured. In some cases, tremors and shaking can be caused by different types of medication.
Determine if weakness exists in face and throat muscles.
o Weakening of facial muscles may cause you to drool, cough or choke, especially while eating or talking. Your face may also assume a vacant expression that includes staring or unblinking eyes when you communicate with others.
o The weakness in your throat will affect your voice to make it softer and monotone, cause excessive slurring and delays before talking.
Look for delayed or slower movements known as bradykinesia.
o Bradykinesia affects your ability to perform normal tasks at a functional speed, such as standing, walking and rolling over in bed.
o You may experience episodes of freezing in place while you walk or during other movements.
Note any changes in posture and balance.
o Low dopamine levels will affect motor skills and cause poor reflexes, leading to a stooped posture and problems with balancing while walking.
o You may experience frequent falls and begin to take smaller steps while shuffling your feet.
Take note of rigid and stiff muscles.
o Parkinson's disease can cause muscle pain and aches anywhere in your body when you move.
o The most common sign is when you stop swinging your arms while you walk, because the pain is too great.
Look for instant changes in your handwriting.
o Parkinson's disease will usually cause smaller and cramped handwriting due to the way tremors, stiffness and coordination affect your hands and fingers.
o Handwriting may change gradually as you age due to poor vision and various other health conditions, but not instantly as it does with Parkinson's disease.
Note changes in bladder control and constipation.
o An early sign of Parkinson's disease is increased instances of straining while trying to make bowel movements. You may also have problems controlling your bladder and bowels.
o Constipation may still occur depending on the amount of fibre and water in your diet, but should not continue if you have already taken measures to address the problem.
Analyse your sleeping behavior.
o Parkinson's disease may cause violent thrashing and moving around during sleep, including punching and kicking. You may also start to fall out of bed while sleeping.
o Normal sleeping movements may include "tossing and turning," but there should not be any violent movements.
Speak to a doctor or health professional if you are suffering from any of these problems to seek treatment and to confirm a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
----------------
and if you Really want to look into this, read Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS): Scale presentation and clinimetric testing results. You will find a wealth of precise tables explaining and listing symptoms. Be aware though that being Too Informed too early, can be seriously Scary!
Abstract
To present a clinimetric assessment of the Movement Disorder Society (MDS)-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS). The MDS-UDPRS Task Force revised and expanded the UPDRS using recommendations from a published critique.
The MDS-UPDRS has four parts, namely,
I: Non-motor Experiences of Daily Living;
II: Motor Experiences of Daily Living;
III: Motor Examination;
IV: Motor Complications.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mds.22340/epdf
Edited by Maluniu, Maniac, Chris, Genius_knight and 3 others
Parkinson's disease is a condition in which the brain stops producing regular amounts of dopamine, which controls our motor skills and impacts the central nervous system. Those who suffer from it can experience a variety of physical problems, including slower movements and difficulty controlling muscles.
Since Parkinson's disease progresses over time, knowing its signs and symptoms can help you determine if you need to seek treatment and obtain a proper diagnosis. Continue reading to learn how to recognize the signs of Parkinson's disease.
Have a look at this slideshow to gain a greater understanding of this often most puzzling condition. Very well laid out.
http://www.medicinenet.com/parkinsons_disease_pictures_slideshow/article.htm
- People lose functional abilities in the opposite order to which they acquire them
- ‘Early loss’ ADLs like housework, transport, handling money, managing medicines (domestic functioning) are gained last and lost first
- ‘Late loss’ ADLs like dressing, toileting, feeding and bed mobility (self-care) are gained 1st and lost last
- It is reasonable to assume that, if a person can do early loss ADLs, they can also do late loss (supports screening)
ANC News Australia - As many as 25 per cent of patients who are told they have Parkinson's disease actually have other degenerative brain illnesses, prompting Australian doctors to investigate more accurate ways to diagnose the illness.
Key points:
- Many diagnosed with Parkinson's may have dementia with Lewy bodies
- Expert says it is dangerous to confuse the conditions
- Australian doctors taking part in a worldwide trial that could more accurately diagnose patients
Steps
Evaluate existing tremors and shakes.
o Tremors and shakes will usually begin in the limbs such as legs, hands and arms and may eventually lead to tremors of the mouth, lips, chin and fingers.
o Rubbing your thumb and forefinger together is a common behavior of Parkinson's disease.
o Tremors and shakes will usually occur when you are relaxing and sitting down.
o Shaking is considered normal after exercising or getting injured. In some cases, tremors and shaking can be caused by different types of medication.
Determine if weakness exists in face and throat muscles.
o Weakening of facial muscles may cause you to drool, cough or choke, especially while eating or talking. Your face may also assume a vacant expression that includes staring or unblinking eyes when you communicate with others.
o The weakness in your throat will affect your voice to make it softer and monotone, cause excessive slurring and delays before talking.
Look for delayed or slower movements known as bradykinesia.
o Bradykinesia affects your ability to perform normal tasks at a functional speed, such as standing, walking and rolling over in bed.
o You may experience episodes of freezing in place while you walk or during other movements.
Note any changes in posture and balance.
o Low dopamine levels will affect motor skills and cause poor reflexes, leading to a stooped posture and problems with balancing while walking.
o You may experience frequent falls and begin to take smaller steps while shuffling your feet.
Take note of rigid and stiff muscles.
o Parkinson's disease can cause muscle pain and aches anywhere in your body when you move.
o The most common sign is when you stop swinging your arms while you walk, because the pain is too great.
Look for instant changes in your handwriting.
o Parkinson's disease will usually cause smaller and cramped handwriting due to the way tremors, stiffness and coordination affect your hands and fingers.
o Handwriting may change gradually as you age due to poor vision and various other health conditions, but not instantly as it does with Parkinson's disease.
Note changes in bladder control and constipation.
o An early sign of Parkinson's disease is increased instances of straining while trying to make bowel movements. You may also have problems controlling your bladder and bowels.
o Constipation may still occur depending on the amount of fibre and water in your diet, but should not continue if you have already taken measures to address the problem.
Analyse your sleeping behavior.
o Parkinson's disease may cause violent thrashing and moving around during sleep, including punching and kicking. You may also start to fall out of bed while sleeping.
o Normal sleeping movements may include "tossing and turning," but there should not be any violent movements.
Speak to a doctor or health professional if you are suffering from any of these problems to seek treatment and to confirm a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
----------------
and if you Really want to look into this, read Movement Disorder Society-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS): Scale presentation and clinimetric testing results. You will find a wealth of precise tables explaining and listing symptoms. Be aware though that being Too Informed too early, can be seriously Scary!
Abstract
To present a clinimetric assessment of the Movement Disorder Society (MDS)-sponsored revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS). The MDS-UDPRS Task Force revised and expanded the UPDRS using recommendations from a published critique.
The MDS-UPDRS has four parts, namely,
I: Non-motor Experiences of Daily Living;
II: Motor Experiences of Daily Living;
III: Motor Examination;
IV: Motor Complications.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/mds.22340/epdf