Symptoms of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system, which is more common in the elderly. Many great people have died of Parkinson's disease, such as the familiar Deng Xiaoping. Parkinson's disease seriously affects the patient's quality of life. Medically, Parkinson's disease is divided into five levels. Patients in the first four levels can generally take care of themselves, while patients in the fifth level need help from their family or use a wheelchair.

The cause of Parkinson's disease is still not very clear. In terms of treatment, early detection and early treatment are necessary to effectively control the disease, improve the patient's quality of life, at least enable them to take care of themselves and reduce the burden on their families. Everyone needs to know the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

1. Difficulty in initiating movement and slowing down of movement: unable to take care of oneself in daily life, unable to stand up after sitting down, unable to turn over in bed, and having difficulty untying shoelaces and buttons, putting on and taking off shoes, socks or pants, shaving, washing face and brushing teeth. Repetitive movements can cause fatigue.

2. Diverse motor defects: lack of expression, few blinks, and a "mask face" as a unique facial appearance. In severe cases, articulation, chewing, and swallowing are difficult. Excessive drooling is caused by muscle movement disorders in the mouth, tongue, palate, and pharynx, but saliva secretion does not increase, only because the patient cannot swallow the saliva naturally. Severe patients may experience difficulty swallowing, and the accompanying movements of the upper limbs during walking may decrease or disappear.

3. Difficulty in movement transition: Difficulty in switching from one movement state to another, resulting in movement interruption or repetition. For example, patients have difficulty with fine motor movements such as being unable to salute while walking, buttoning their clothes when answering questions, tying their shoelaces, etc. Continuous alternating movements often have pauses. Patients cannot make fine movements of their upper limbs and have difficulty writing. The handwritten words are crooked and become smaller and smaller as they are written. This is called "micrographia".

Parkinson's disease patients should eat a variety of foods, including cereals, fresh vegetables, fruits, milk or beans, meat, etc. Eating a variety of foods can meet the body's needs for various nutrients and make eating itself enjoyable. At the same time, the food should be soft, easy to digest, easy to chew and swallow, and can be provided as semi-liquid or soft food.