In the April issue of Retail Pharmacy magazine, Parkinson’s Queensland provided pointers on identifying Parkinson’s disease and spoke about the importance of raising awareness of the disease and its symptoms.
As the fastest-growing neurodegenerative condition in the world, Parkinson’s disease currently affects more than 130,000 Australians, with 37 new diagnoses each day across the country. While 80 per cent of those diagnosed are aged over 60 years, a significant number of people are being diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s.
With April being Parkinson’s Awareness Month and 11 April World Parkinson’s Day, it’s important to raise awareness of the disease’s symptoms so it can be identified early.
Many people report experiencing symptoms years before they’re diagnosed. A lack of knowledge and understanding of the condition can mean that people miss the early warning signs of Parkinson’s.
These symptoms can go unnoticed or ignored, and it’s not until symptoms progress that people will seek help. It’s important to note that by the time someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s, they’ve lost 50-70 per cent of the dopaminergic neurons in their brain, and this is irreversible.
While no cure yet exists for Parkinson’s, which is progressive and degenerative, the earlier the diagnosis and treatment along with supportive therapies, the better. This increases the chances of slowing the disease progression and can significantly increase a person’s quality of life.
Many people only know of the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as a tremor or difficulty walking, but there are many other symptoms of Parkinson’s that can manifest long before a person is diagnosed with the condition.
Here are 10 early warning signs of Parkinson’s disease to look out for:
Dizziness or fainting. This can be a sign of low blood pressure and can be linked to Parkinson’s.
Tremors. While at rest, a tremor in a finger, thumb, hand or chin is a common early sign of Parkinson’s.
Sleep. Do you thrash around in bed or act out dreams when you’re deeply asleep, or have sudden movements? These can be another early sign of Parkinson’s.
Small handwriting. Has your handwriting become much smaller than it was? The letter sizes are sometimes smaller, and the words are crowded together.
Smell. Have you noticed you no longer smell certain foods very well, especially bananas, dill pickles and liquorice?
Walking. Do you feel stiff in your body, arms, or legs? Have others noticed that your arms don’t swing like they used to when you walk?
Hunching. Are you not standing up as straight as you used to? Are you stooping, leaning or slouching when you stand?
Facial expression. Have you been told that you have a serious, depressed or ‘mad’ look on your face, even when you’re not in a bad mood?
Constipation. Do you have trouble moving your bowels without straining every day?
Voice. Have other people told you that your voice is very soft or that you sound hoarse?
Some of these symptoms can also be attributed to other conditions, so it’s important to identify them early and seek medical advice and a referral to a neurologist for a formal diagnosis.
For more information about Parkinson’s disease and the support available to people living with the condition, Parkinson’s Queensland can be contacted via our website parkinsonsqld.org.au or email on pqi@parkinsonsqld.org.au
Parkinson’s Queensland was established in 1985 and provides education, information and support to people affected by Parkinson’s disease and their families. We also provide education and information to health professionals, including GPs, pharmacists, allied health professionals and organisations providing care services
