Parkinson’s
More than six million people are affected worldwide and according to Parkinson’s UK one in every 500 people in the UK has Parkinson’s. This equates to approximately 127,000 individuals, many of them over the age of 50, who require specialist care and support.
It’s important to remember that not everyone who develops Parkinsons’s disease will experience every sign and symptom.
Early warning signs of Parkinson’s disease can be easy to miss, especially if they occur sporadically, however if you have one or more of the following symptoms you should consider making an appointment with your GP.
1. Tremors
Have you noticed a slight shaking or tremor in either your finger, thumb, hand or chin whilst your relaxed?
2. Stiffness
Does your body, arms of legs feel stiff? Have others noticed that your arms don’t swing like they used to when you walk? Do you struggle to get out of a chair? Sometimes people say their feet seem “stuck to the floor”
3. Posture
Are you stooping, leaning or slouching when you stand?
4. Smell
Have you noticed you no longer smell certain foods very well?
5. Sleeping
In a deep sleep do you thrash around in bed. Sudden uncontrollable movements during sleep may be a sign of Parkinson’s disease.
6. Constipation
Do you have difficulty moving your bowels without straining every day?
7. Handwriting
Is your handwriting much smaller? Are your words cramped together? You may notice the way you write words on a page has changed.
8. Voice
Has your voice become husky or hoarse?
9. Facial Expression
Have you been told that you have a serious or less animated look on your face, even when you are not in a bad mood? This is often called facial masking and can be a sign of Parkinson’s.
10. Balance
Are you regularly feeling dizzy when you stand up out of a chair? This could be a sign of low blood pressure and can be linked to Parkinson’s .