Subtle Signs
Two classic signs of Parkinson's disease that often occur in the early stages are changes to speech and handwriting. If you are developing Parkinson's disease, your handwriting may change and become very small, cramped and hard to read. In addition, your speech may become soft and hard for others to hear. You may find that you run out of breath before completing a sentence.
Early Symptoms
Since Parkinson's disease affects the muscles of the face, you may have trouble showing emotion. Parkinson's patients often have what is referred to as a masked face and may seem to not respond when spoken to. The person with Parkinson's is usually not aware of this, but it is noticed by family members and friends. Another classic sign is if you tend to keep your arms stiff as you walk. If you have Parkinson's you may develop a tendency to take very small, quick and shuffling steps and walk on your toes.
Pronounced Symptoms
As the disease progresses, the patient develops tremors and uncontrolled movements. All movement will be slow and stiff, and the reflexes will be affected. Your physician will need to perform a full physical examination and will test your strength, flexibility and reflexes. He will test your ability to balance and carry out specific tasks. Other secondary problems such as insomnia, constipation, lack of energy and urinary problems can help to diagnose this condition.
Understanding the Challenges
Since many of the classic early signs of Parkinson's disease are so subtle, a patient can go on for years before a diagnosis is made. Family members are usually the first to know something is wrong. The American Parkinson's Disease Association, the National Parkinson's Foundation and the Parkinson's Disease Foundation maintain websites that can help you learn more about this condition and the challenges involved in making a diagnosis (see Resources). These sites also have lists of physicians who are specially trained to recognize and treat Parkinson's disease.
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