Parkinson’s disease is not a one size fits all kind of illness as each individual who has it is affected in different ways. There are some symptoms that occur in the early stages of the disease that might help you identify the cause as Parkinson’s disease but they may be manifested at different stages. To get a basic understanding of what to look for, here are the most common symptoms to watch for:

1. Tremors in the arms or legs are the most tell tale sign of the disease and often occurs when someone is standing still or awake and sitting down. In the earliest stages of the disease, the tremor subsides when the limb affected is moved.

2. Bradykinesia is slow, restricted movement that occurs if you try to move out of a resting position such as a chair, bed or other furniture. Difficulty turning over in bed is common too.

3. Rigidity in the limbs is another common trait in Parkinson’s disease. A significant indicator of the disease occurs when your arm does not swing as much when walking, which can in turn affect balance. When the limbs and other parts become rigid, it can cause muscle pain and lethargy.

4. Muscles in the throat, neck and face lose strength making it hard for you to chew and swallow and talk as well as you did before. Because of this weakness, drooling can occur as well as coughing and choking on food. The muscles are not as taut so blank facial expressions and even staring is another side effect to Parkinson’s disease.

5. Problems walking along with balance issues are common too. When the disease affects mobility and balance, you might tend to walk in small, shuffling steps with a stooped posture and legs close together. This stance can cause problems with falling but physical therapy and external cues can help improve gait and balance.

Tremors are often one of the first signs of the disease and may just present itself as an annoying problem as it likely sticks to one side of the body. However, the worry comes when the tremor spreads to both sides of the body. When you are under stress, whether physical or emotional, the tremors can get more noticeable.

Other symptoms may also occur with Parkinson’s but they may or may not present themselves at the start of the disease. Some of these include:

1. Decrease in physical dexterity. Handwriting may become a problem as well as the development of clumsiness in physical pursuits you once excelled at like sports and even every day tasks like feeding yourself and dressing can pose problems.

2. Cramping, muscle aches, joint pain, bowel and urinary problems, digestion issues and body functions related to the autonomic nervous system like blood pressure, sex and sweating are affected.

3. Emotional issues can creep up such as depression, anxiety, fearfulness, and even confusion. Dementia may occur in later stages of the disease.

The bottom line is that Parkinson’s disease will manifest itself in different ways. You need to become proactive in seeking help as soon as you feel there is a problem because drug treatment and physical therapy can do quite a bit to slow the progress of the disease.

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