Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years. Symptoms of the disease usually develop gradually and are mild at first, so it may take some time for symptoms to become obvious. Most people associate the disease with problems with physical movement, however there is a vast array of other, more subtle signs. The three main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are tremors, slowness of movement, and muscle stiffness.
Tremors usually begin in the hands or arms, and are more likely to occur when the limb is relaxed and resting.
Slowness of movement is when physical movements are much slower than normal. It can result in a distinctive slow, shuffling walk with very small steps.
Muscle stiffness causes tension in the muscles which can make it difficult to move around and make facial expressions, and can result in painful muscle cramps.
However, one other, far less obvious symptom of Parkinson’s disease is constipation.
Constipation is a common bowel problem which is usually the cause of things that are less serious than Parkinson’s disease.
For example, you could be constipated because you haven’t eaten enough fibre – which is needed to bulk up the stools and make them easier to pass.
Not drinking enough fluids, changing your diet or daily routine, and not exercising enough can also cause constipation.
Constipation can also happen if you ignore the urge to go to the toilet, if you feel stressed, anxious or depressed, or as a side effect of medication.
However, in some, rarer cases it can also be caused by medical conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
If you have constipation and also have other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, you may want to see a GP.
Aside from problems with movement, other symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include needing to urinate more often in the night or experiencing urinary incontinence.
It can also cause balance problems, loss of sense of smell, nerve pain, erectile dysfunction, dizziness, blurred vision or fainting, excessive sweating and drooling.
Difficulties with swallowing and problems sleeping can also be symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Cognitive and psychiatric symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include depression and anxiety, dementia and more mild cognitive impairment.
“The order in which these [symptoms] develop and their severity is different for each individual. It’s unlikely that a person with Parkinson’s disease would experience all or most of these,” said the NHS.
“See your GP if you’re concerned you may have symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.”