Parkinson's Disease is a movement disorder that affects around 12,000 people living in Ireland today.
The progressive neurological condition is most commonly diagnosed in people aged in their 60s and there is currently no cure for the deadly disease.
The most common symptom associated with Parkinson's is a tremor but there is one silent physical symptom that people can spot on the toilet before they are diagnosed.
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Constipation is common among people with Parkinson’s and can be seen in patients years before a diagnosis.
As Parkinson’s progresses it affects people's movements, making their movements slow and rigid.
This can make physical activity difficult which in turn affects muscles in the bowel wall, meaning food is not moved along, resulting in constipation.
Parkinson's also causes other muscle control problems, which can make it difficult for people to contract their abdominal muscles and relax the anal sphincter, in order to pass a stool.
According to the NHS, here are all the symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease:
Three main symptoms of Parkinson's disease
- Tremor – shaking, which usually begins in the hand or arm and is more likely to occur when the limb is relaxed and resting
- Slowness of movement (bradykinesia) – physical movements are much slower than normal, which can make everyday tasks difficult and result in a distinctive slow, shuffling walk with very small steps
- Muscle stiffness (rigidity) – stiffness and tension in the muscles, which can make it difficult to move around and make facial expressions, and can result in painful muscle cramps (dystonia)
However, there are a range of other symptoms, both physical and mental.
Physical symptoms of Parkinson's may include
- balance problems
- loss of sense of smell (anosmia)
- nerve pain
- problems with peeing
- constipation
- an inability to obtain or sustain an erection (erectile dysfunction) in men
- difficulty becoming sexually aroused and achieving an orgasm (sexual dysfunction) in women
- dizziness, blurred vision or fainting when moving from a sitting or lying position to a standing one
- excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
- swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)
- excessive production of saliva (drooling)
- problems sleeping (insomnia)
Cognitive and psychiatric symptoms of Parkinson's include
- depression and anxiety
- mild cognitive impairment
- dementia
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