Yahoo News Sign of Parkinson's disease that can appear several years before any other symptoms
One symptom of Parkinson's disease can show up several years before other symptoms develop, according to NHS experts.
Parkinson's is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years. The main symptoms are involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body (tremor), slow movement, stiff and inflexible muscles.
People can also experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms. The NHS says: "The symptoms of Parkinson's disease usually develop gradually and are mild at first.
"There are many different symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease. But the order in which these develop and their severity is different for each individual. It's unlikely that a person with Parkinson's disease would experience all or most of these."
The NHS has a list of symptoms to be aware of. It also says that a loss of sense of smell (anosmia) can "sometimes occurs several years before other symptoms develop". More details are given below.
Main symptoms of Parkinson's
According to the NHS, the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease affect physical movement:
tremor – shaking, which usually begins in the hand or arm and is more likely to occur when the limb is relaxed and resting
slowness of movement (bradykinesia) – physical movements are much slower than normal, which can make everyday tasks difficult and result in a distinctive slow, shuffling walk with very small steps
muscle stiffness (rigidity) – stiffness and tension in the muscles, which can make it difficult to move around and make facial expressions, and can result in painful muscle cramps (dystonia)
Other symptoms
Physical symptoms
balance problems – these can make someone with the condition more likely to have a fall and injure themselves
loss of sense of smell (anosmia) – sometimes occurs several years before other symptoms develop
nerve pain – can cause unpleasant sensations, such as burning, coldness or numbness
problems with peeing – such as having to get up frequently during the night to pee or unintentionally peeing (urinary incontinence)
constipation
an inability to obtain or sustain an erection (erectile dysfunction) in men
difficulty becoming sexually aroused and achieving an orgasm (sexual dysfunction) in women
dizziness, blurred vision or fainting when moving from a sitting or lying position to a standing one – caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure
excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) – this can lead to malnutrition and dehydration
excessive production of saliva (drooling)
problems sleeping (insomnia) – this can result in excessive sleepiness during the day
Cognitive and psychiatric symptoms
depression and anxiety
mild cognitive impairment – slight memory problems and problems with activities that require planning and organisation
dementia – a group of symptoms, including more severe memory problems, personality changes, seeing things that are not there (visual hallucinations) and believing things that are not true (delusions)
The NHS says: "See your GP if you're concerned you may have symptoms of Parkinson's disease. .Your GP will ask about your symptoms and your medical history to help them decide whether it's necessary to refer you to a specialist for further tests."
