The Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative disease that slowly leads to the death of certain brain cells that synthesize and release dopamine. By the time the initial symptoms of Parkinson's disease appear, 40 to 50 percent of dopamine-producing neurons have already been lost. Therefore, it is important to identify the condition as early as possible.
Some early signs of Parkinson's may appear early in the disease but often go unnoticed. Physicians may also fail to recognize these early signs of Parkinson's, tending not to give them proper consideration, which can delay essential treatment for Parkinson's disease. This is also true for symptoms of Parkinsonism, which can manifest similarly and require similarly early diagnosis.
In addition, an April 2011 survey by the National Parkinson's Foundation found that many people avoid being examined, even in the presence of worrisome Parkinson's symptoms, such as a tremor.
Here is a list of the ten most often overlooked symptoms that may help you identify and receive An early treatment for Parkinson's disease, thus improving the overall management of Parkinson's symptoms.
One of the lesser-known symptoms of Parkinson's disease: loss of the sense of smell
This is one of the strangest and least known symptoms of Parkinson's. It is often one of the first signs of Parkinson's, but it is almost always detected too late.
As a result, loss of taste may also occur, as it is closely integrated with the sense of smell.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter whose job is to carry signals between the brain, muscles, and nerves throughout the body. When cells (neurons) that produce dopamine begin to die, as in Parkinson's disease, the sense of smell is impaired.
Sleep problems as symptoms of Parkinson's disease
Another symptom found in people with Parkinson's is rapid eye movement sleep behavioral disorder (RBD). In this case, people tend to move during the REM sleep phase, the deepest part of the sleep cycle. People with this disorder may scream, kick or grind their teeth, but they may also attack their bedmates.
About 40 percent of people with RBD develop Parkinson's, even up to 10 years after the onset of symptoms.
Two other sleep symptoms commonly associated with Parkinson's disease are restless legs syndrome (a tingling sensation in the legs and a feeling of having to move them) and sleep apnea (suddenly and temporarily stopping breathing during sleep).
These symptoms do not in themselves indicate the presence of Parkinson's, of course, but many Parkinson's patients-up to 40 percent in the case of sleep apnea-show these symptoms.
Bowel and bladder disorders
Another common symptom of Parkinson's-one that is often overlooked, as it can have many causes-is constipation and intestinal gas.
This happens because Parkinson's also affects the autonomic nervous system, which regulates the activity of the smooth muscles of which the intestines and bladder are composed. As a result, the muscles of the intestines and bladder become less sensitive and efficient, thus slowing down the digestive process.
The difference between common constipation and constipation caused by Parkinson's is that, in the latter case, there is also a prolonged feeling of fullness, even though the patient has eaten little.
Regarding the urinary tract, some people with Parkinson's have difficulty urinating, while others suffer from incontinence.
Parkinson's symptoms and lack of facial expression
A dopamine deficiency can also affect facial muscles, which become stiff and sluggish, causing problems with expressiveness. This is known as a Parkinson's mask face. The face no longer expresses the person's emotions and feelings.
As the disease progresses, this symptom worsens until it reaches its extreme form, referred to by the term “Parkinson's mask,” which occurs in the advanced stages of the disease.
Changes are minimal: initially there is slowness in smiling or wrinkling of the forehead, distant gazing, or abnormal blinking.
A common Parkinson's symptom among women: neck pain
Parkinson's disease-related neck pain appears mainly in women. This was highlighted in a study reporting it as the third most frequent symptom of Parkinson's (after tremor and stiffness in Parkinson's).
Neck pain caused by Parkinson's persists for a long time, unlike common neck pain which should disappear after a few days.
This symptom can sometimes manifest itself more as numbness or a tingling sensation. It may also present as discomfort that leads to frequent attempts to stretch the neck.
Understanding how Parkinson's symptoms in women manifest differently is crucial for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Other Parkinson's symptoms: bradykinesia and difficulty in writing
One of the main symptoms of Parkinson's, known as bradykinesia, is the slowing of spontaneous and routine movements.
Slowing down in writing is one of the earliest signs of bradykinesia and is one of the most characteristic neurological symptoms of Parkinson's disease involving loss of spontaneous movements.
Patients begin to find difficulty in writing and often their handwriting becomes smaller and more compressed than before. Bradykinesia and Parkinson's often go hand in hand, making daily activities increasingly difficult to perform.
Other complaints that reveal the onset of bradykinesia include difficulty in washing and dressing. Fastening buttons or zippers can often take a long time.
Changes in tone of voice and speech
The voice of a person with Parkinson's often changes, becoming weaker and monotone. This Parkinson's symptom is the one that should worry the patient's family and friends the most, as it begins long before the other common complaints become apparent.
Having difficulty pronouncing certain words can also be indicative of Parkinson's disease. This is due to hardened facial muscles, which make it more difficult to speak clearly.
With Parkinson's, arms do not swing freely
Among the neurological symptoms of Parkinson's disease, reduced mobility of the arms during walking is also characteristic.
Normally, when walking, our arms swing along our sides. In patients with Parkinson's this does not happen, because of the stiffness in Parkinson's caused by the disease.
“With the onset of Parkinson's disease, people begin to have what we call increased muscle tone, which means the muscles are stiffer and more restricted.”, confirms Dr. Santamaria, a neurologist and Parkinson's expert at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. “The arm simply doesn't go where the brain tells it to go.”
Unlike arthritis or injury, no joint damage is involved and there is no pain.
Excessive sweating may be a symptom of Parkinson's disease
As mentioned earlier, Parkinson's affects the autonomic nervous system, damaging the body's ability to thermally self-regulate, thus causing changes in the skin and sweat glands.
These changes cause uncontrollable sweating for no plausible reason, such as heat or anxiety.
This possible Parkinson's symptom is called hyperhidrosis and is very similar to the hot flashes that often occur during menopause.
Many also suffer from a problem of excessive salivation, but this is caused by a difficulty in swallowing rather than increased saliva production.
Parkinson's symptoms and changes in mood and personality
Although the causes are still unclear, some personality changes have been noted in Parkinson's patients, such as increased anxiety in new situations, social withdrawal and depression.
Several studies show that depression is often the first symptom of Parkinson's to be noticed, but it is not initially linked to the condition.
Changes in cognitive abilities also occur in some people, particularly in concentration and cognitive functions that control movement.
The first sign of cognitive decline is the loss of the ability to multitask.
Some experts believe that thinking problems also affect mood because the feeling of mental difficulty can induce anxiety, a feeling of being overwhelmed and social withdrawal.
Parkinson's treatment is essential once symptoms become evident. Early detection of early symptoms of Parkinson's disease can significantly improve the effectiveness of treatment. Different stages require tailored approaches to treatment, underscoring the importance of recognizing Parkinson's symptoms.
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