Signs and Symptoms

 

The main symptoms of Parkinson's are Tremor (shaking), slowness of movement and rigidity. Each person with Parkinson’s will have a different set of symptoms and the severity of the symptoms will also vary.

  • Tremor is a movement that can't be controlled which normally starts in the hand and tends to occur when the limb is at rest. This is called a resting tremor and can be more noticeable when you are stressed or anxious. Around 70% of people suffering from Parkinson’s have a tremor. The tremor typically worsens over time and spreads up the arm and to the foot, after a few years it can start to affect both sides of the body.
  •  Bradykinesia is slowness of voluntary movement, which causes problems in initiation, and execution of movements. Co-ordination of movement is often lacking and people who have bradykinesia may walk with short, shuffling steps (festination)
  •  Rigidity means stiffness or inflexibility of the muscles caused by continuous contraction of muscles. Muscle tone of an affected limb is always stiff and doesn’t relax which results in a limited range of motion.

 Image courtesy of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Paralysis_agitans_(1907,_after_St._Leger).png

 As the disease progresses symptoms unrelated to movement can also occur.

Non-motor symptoms include:

  • Sleeping Problems: up to 90% of people with the condition experience such problems, which include the inability to fall asleep, disturbances in REM sleep, vivid nightmares and waking up regularly during the night.
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS): an increase in the time spent sleeping during the day.
  • Dementia: symptoms of dementia include executive dysfunction, slowness of thought, poor memory, impaired concentration and less communication.
  • Depression and Anxiety: many people suffering from Parkinson’s will experience feelings of worthlessness, lack of self-esteem and guilt.
  • Alterations in the autonomic nervous system: this leads to oily skin and excessive sweating, orthostatic hypertension, constipation, increased salivation and urinary incontinence.