Parkinson’s Awareness Month: Stages of Parkinson’s Disease

by Ayub A. Healthcare data journalist

Month of April is globally celebrated as ‘Parkinson’s awareness month’. Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder which adversely affects the activity of central nervous system. This disorder may result in physical problems like involuntary shaking of body parts (tremor), slow movements and muscle stiffness. In addition to this, it may also cause psychological issues like anxiety, depression, and loss of memory. Definite cause of occurrence of Parkinson is still a topic of research. However, medical experts believe that family history of this disease and constant exposure to certain toxins may fuel up the possibility of Parkinson.

Stages of Parkinson’s disease

Parkinson’s disease progresses slowly over years. The following points elaborate the stages of development of Parkinson in patients.

Stage One - This is the initial stage of Parkinson’s disease which causes mild symptoms. Patients may not be able to recognize any abnormal symptom during this stage. However, other people like family members or friends may notice certain changes in patient’s facial expressions and their posture. In some instances, patients may also experience tremors usually on one side of the body.
Stage Two - Untreated symptoms of Parkinson’s disease may become more significant in the next stage. Patients may encounter problems like stiffening of muscles, difficulty in walking, and loss of balance while performing daily routine tasks or physical activities. Such symptoms mostly affect both the sides of patient’s body.
Stage Three - Parkinson’s disease symptoms may worsen in this stage. Patient’s movement may become much slower than before. They may experience decreased reflexes and may not be able to stand properly without support. They may fall frequently while walking. They must promptly visit a neurologist for medical care.
Stage Four - Stage four is a critical stage of Parkinson’s disease. Patients usually become dependent on others for carrying out daily work. They may need assistive devices for doing basic tasks like standing or walking. It is extremely dangerous for them to survive alone at this point. They will constantly need someone to assist and guide them.
Stage Five - This is the most extreme and disabling stage of Parkinson’s disease. Patients may encounter an intense muscle stiffness. They may not be able to walk or stand properly. This stage may mentally affect them and cause hallucinations. Mental imbalance may create a big problem for them and their family members as well.

Living with Parkinson’s disease can be extremely difficult. Main objective of Parkinson’s awareness month is to help patients cope up with its disabling symptoms. Many events are organized worldwide in the month of April for providing relevant information on early signs of Parkinson’s disease and its treatment measures. Early detection and a suitable Parkinson’s disease treatment can help maximize patient’s overall quality of life.

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