Parkinson's disease Warning Signs

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder which is related to the loss of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical which assists in the transmitting of messages to the parts of the brain which control movement and co-ordination. When the brain loses its function to produce dopamine, the messages to the parts of the body which control movement etc are disturbed etc and eventually become non existent. Once this happens, the person who is suffering from Parkinson's disease exhibits the classic symptoms described below.

However dopamine doesn't disappear overnight. The cells producing this chemical degenerate over a period of time, therefore the progression of Parkinson's disease is often slow and takes a period of months or even years to reach the final stages.

There are some early tell tale signs of Parkinson's disease that if spotted early enough could assist in an early diagnosis being made. Many Parkinson disease specialists estimate that when a conclusive diagnosis of Parkinson's is made, over 80% of dopamine has been lost from the brain. In these instances, if the disease had been caught early enough it could maybe have been slowed down by treatment, giving the sufferer a longer period of a good quality of life.

Early warning signs of Parkinson's disease include

Tremors, the majority of patients who have Parkinson's disease suffer from tremors. These are very fine initially and barely noticeable. They usually start in the hands or feet, and the sufferer and his family may not even notice them at first. Eventually they become more pronounced, until eventually they have an effect on the person's activities of daily living.

Bradykinesia is another early warning sign of Parkinson's disease. Bradykinesia is a medical term used to describe slowness of movement. This can include a reduced facial expression where the features become very "wooden", the eyes become staring, as there is infrequent blinking, and slow swallowing results in "drooling" because of increased saliva production. There is also difficulty in performing simple tasks such as tying shoelaces or fastening buttons.

Changes in the person's voice are sometimes noticed; it sometimes loses its inflection and becomes a low monotone.

Rigidity in the person can also be an early feature of the disease. These manifest as reduced arm swings when walking,

Greasy skin is also surprisingly another feature of Parkinson's disease. The hair may become greasy and produce dandruff, and there is also increased perspiration which can cause dermatitis.

Unusual feelings such as a burning sensation, restlessness, fatigue and pain can also be a clue.

Ensuring these early symptoms are spotted and dealt with in a timely manner can often ensure the person suffering from Parkinson's disease gets the optimum treatment as early as possible.