Parkinson’s disease has five stages, but not all patients will experience all of them in order or for the same amount of time. Symptoms vary as the disease progresses, with the first stage showing mild tremors and the last stage resulting in total disability. Treatment options vary depending on the stage of the disease.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disease. There are five generally recognized stages of Parkinson’s disease. The progression of the disease can vary from one patient to another and not all patients will experience all five stages of Parkinson’s disease in their generally accepted order. Symptoms can also vary as Parkinson’s disease progresses.
Although physicians have currently identified five distinct stages of Parkinson’s disease, not all patients will experience a direct disease progression that goes through all five stages, one after the other. Nor will all patients stay in all phases for the same amount of time. The five stages of Parkinson’s often vary in duration from patient to patient. Progression of the disease is generally considered to be impossible to predict, with some patients experiencing all stages while other patients jump from an early stage to an advanced stage without going through the stages in between.
The neurological symptoms of Parkinson’s disease typically appear during the early stage of the disease. Patients in the first stage of Parkinson’s disease may experience mild tremors and tremors. These tremors usually only affect one limb or side of the body. Poor posture, impaired ability to maintain balance, and strange facial expressions may also occur during this stage of the disease. Patients are, however, usually able to continue with normal activities and care for themselves unaided.
In the second stage of Parkinson’s disease, symptoms begin to appear in more than one limb and on both sides of the body. Symptoms may begin to impair the patient’s ability to walk or take care of themselves. Balance problems typically become more apparent during this stage of the disease. Patients in the first or second stage of Parkinson’s disease may be prescribed selegiline, pramipexole or ropinirole to manage their symptoms.
Parkinson’s disease does not usually lead to significant impairment in functioning until the fourth and fifth stages of the disease. Patients with stage 4 Parkinson’s may experience bradykinesia, or slowed movement of the body, as well as a markedly reduced ability to walk. Tremor symptoms may subside or disappear during the fourth stage of the disease. However, the patient will probably no longer be able to care for himself and may need live help to carry out daily activities. Patients in the fourth and fifth stages of Parkinson’s disease are usually treated with levodopa.
Patients in the fifth and last stage of Parkinson’s generally lose the ability to stand or walk and are considered totally disabled. Mental and physical vitality can deteriorate during this final stage of the disease. Patients in this stage of the disease usually require nursing care on an ongoing basis, usually in a hospice setting.
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