A hallmark symptom of Parkinson’s is tremors caused due to impaired signalling between the nerve cells that control the body’s movements.
Tremors! Could it be Parkinson’s?
Walking difficulties, handwriting changes, and tremors could be due to ageing, nerve damage, or a previous injury. They mimic Parkinson’s symptoms.
Not all tremors mean Parkinson’s
Early clues to Parkinson’s
Resting stage tremors in the limbs, slow movements, stiffness in muscles, and loss of balance without reason are the early indicators of Parkinson’s.
As Parkinson’s progresses, the symptoms aggravate, leading to improper gait, muscle rigidity and sleep disturbances.
The hallmark symptoms
If any of the symptoms last more than 2-3 three weeks, it's time to visit your doctor. Early diagnosis rules out symptoms mimicking Parkinson’s.
When to visit a doctor?
Dopamine, the happy hormone, also plays a crucial role body movements, muscle tone, memory, mood and sleep. The hormone is less in people with Parkinson’s.
The well-known culprit
A neurologist thoroughly examines the history and symptoms and orders a DaTScan (Dopamine transporter scan), which reveals how dopamine is distributed in the brain.
How is Parkinson’s diagnosed?
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder; early diagnosis and intervention improve the quality of life and help manage the condition better.
Is an early diagnosis necessary?