Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disease. There are Stages of Parkinson’s Disease. This means that it attacks the healthy cells of the body. It generally takes place in five stages.
Stage one is the mild case while stage five is the severe or terminal case. It is necessary to know the symptoms of each stage in order to be able to deal with it properly.
Stage one should not be that much of a worry yet since the patient only experiences mild symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
The symptoms are normally very casual such as tiredness after carrying out daily tasks or infrequent tremors or shaking. Also included in the first stage are the effects on posture and balance.
People with this disease usually have a bad posture and they usually have a hard time keeping their balance. Normally, only one side of the body is affected during this stage therefore the patient can still move freely with just a bit of struggle.
Stage two of Parkinson’s disease is the start of the challenge.
Patients usually start having problems walking during stage two. They usually experience falling because of balance problems and it is now more difficult for them to carry out their daily tasks.
This can be a bit alarming because it will start affecting the efficiency and productivity of the patient in terms of work and other activities.
Normally, the two sides of the body are now affected therefore it is very difficult to keep the balance.
Stage three is the start of the severe effects of the disease.
During stage three, the patient may not be able to walk properly at all.
It will generally mess with the balance and the stance of the limbs.
During this stage, the patient may also not be able to use his or her body parts at ease. Weakness and other motion problems will be noticeable. The patient can still perform daily tasks however accuracy and independence will be highly lessened.
Stage four is the start of dependence on other people.
This stage will render the patient unable to carry out even the simple daily tasks therefore the support of another person is necessary.
Walking may still be possible but it will generally be too difficult for the patient. Tremors and shaking may also be gone during this stage.
Experts still do not know exactly why the tremors diminish but it is possibly the cause of the weakening muscles. The support of the family and friends is very important at this stage. Medical help is also very necessary in order to alleviate the symptoms and help the patient live better.
Stage five is the start of complete dependence.
At this stage, the patient will no longer be able to walk or even stand on his own.
People with stage five Parkinson’s disease will need one-on-one nursing as they need assistance in everything – moving, eating, taking a bath, and so on.
Parkinson’s disease is a troublesome condition because it can make a person completely dependent for all his/her life. Therefore, it is very important to consult a doctor as soon as you notice the first-stage symptoms.
