Pain...Pain is a common non-motor symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD). About 9 out of 10 people with PD have some type of pain impacting their quality of life. Pain varies...
Orthostatic Hypotension...Orthostatic hypotension is a condition where the blood pressure drops when you stand or sometimes even sit up. This can cause dizziness, light-headedness, and fainting. It is usually harmless, but...
Sleep Issues...Parkinson's disease (PD) and sleep issues are often related. Most people with PD have sleep problems at some point. PD itself may cause problems, or you may also feel tired...
Gut and Bladder Problems...While Parkinson's disease is known for causing motor symptoms of the limbs, it may also cause problems with the nerves that help control the gut and bladder. The gastrointestinal tract...
Other Secondary Motor Symptoms...Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by the primary motor symptoms of tremor, rigidity, postural instability (impaired balance), and bradykinesia (slowing down and loss of spontaneous movement). Not everyone with PD...
Useful Assistive Devices for Parkinson's Disease...Parkinson’s disease (PD) can make daily living challenging. As the disease progresses, the motor symptoms such as tremor or shaking, stiffness, slow movements, and unsteady balance can make it difficult...
What Is Carbidopa/Levodopa Therapy?...The combination of levodopa and carbidopa is a treatment used for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Levodopa/carbidopa is the most effective treatment available for the motor symptoms of PD. Levodopa was first...
Medications for Parkinson's Disease...There are several drugs used to help manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). While there is no known cure for PD or any known treatments that can slow the...
Fatigue...Do you or someone close to you with Parkinson's disease (PD) have trouble getting through the day without feeling physically or mentally drained? You are not alone. Fatigue is a...
Non-Motor Symptoms of Parkinson's...Parkinson’s disease (PD) is typically characterized by motor (movement) symptoms. These symptoms include: However, there are other symptoms of PD that are not directly related to movement dysfunction. These symptoms...
Speech and Swallowing Difficulties...Parkinson's disease (PD) is a long-term, progressive disease that affects the nervous system. Some of the most common symptoms of Parkinson's disease include: However, PD can also cause many speech...
Mask-Like Expression (hypomimia)...People with Parkinson's disease (PD) can experience different symptoms, and these symptoms can vary in severity. Some people with PD experience a mask-like expression as a motor (movement) symptom of...
Micrographia...Micrographia is the medical term for a small handwriting size. It may be caused by various conditions. These include brain and muscle disorders, nervousness about writing, arthritis, or injury to...
Parkinson's Gait...Walking patterns may be altered in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). The medical term for walking pattern is gait. These changes in gait are sometimes referred to as Parkinson's gait...
Secondary Motor Symptoms of Parkinson's...Parkinson's disease (PD) is a long-term (chronic) brain and nerve (neurological) disorder. PD affects movement (motor) functions as well as other (non-motor) body functions. PD is a progressive disease, meaning...
Postural Instability and Balancing Issues...One of the main symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) is balance problems. This symptom usually appears in the later stages of the disease. People with PD often have issues with...
Rigidity and Stiffness...Stiffness and rigidity are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Rigidity is when your muscles feel tense and tighten up without you wanting them to. Muscle rigidity can happen in different...
Bradykinesia (Slowed Movements)...One key movement (motor) symptom of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is bradykinesia, or slowed movements. The slowing of movements in PD can make it challenging to move around. A person with...
Tremor...Tremor in Parkinson's disease (PD) results from the lack of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical messenger (neurotransmitter) that helps coordinate movement in the body. In PD, the...
Motor Symptoms of Parkinson's...Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a movement disorder that gets worse over time. PD progresses differently for everyone. You may experience different symptoms at different times than someone else living with...