Parkinson’s disease is known to cause its carrier quite a bit of struggle making it through their day-to-day lifestyle.
Parkinson’s disease is a condition where one struggles with motor functions, mobility, expressions, and sleep disorders. It is an incurable disease because it causes a lot of sensory problems, cognitive issues, and mental stress. However, the severity of the situation can be controlled by medication.
Here are some early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease to look out for to contain your struggles. Read ahead to find out what they are and how to avoid them.
Common Early Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s is a disease affecting your day-to-day life for those above 50, mostly men. Although the signs of it may appear at a much younger age, progression may take a little longer.
However, some early symptoms of Parkinson’s that you may want to look out for are as follows –
Tremors
Tremors are one of the earliest and most evident symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Tremors are known to vary from person to person. Some experience them coming in a rhythmic pattern, while others experience an irregular and inconsistent pattern.
However, rhythmic patterns for tremors are quite common and a well-known symptom of Parkinson’s disease among people who suffer from it.
Some people experience what is known as the “pill-rolling tremor,” where people find themselves moving their thumb and index finger back and forth. Tremors for Parkinson’s appear rather subtle and seem regular.
This is why being aware of your activity and movements is important. Typically, these tremors begin on one side of the body and then slowly progress to moving over to the other side continually. However, the tremor tends to be easily controlled when performing a task.
Stiff Muscles
Muscles becoming stiff throughout your body is another sign to look out for among people suffering from Parkinson’s disease. This stiffness can occur anywhere on your body and can prove to be rather painful and can rather limit your mobility. Most people suffering from Parkinson’s will experience some form of rigidity or stiffness in their body, whether during the disease’s early stage or through its progression.
Some people experience this stiffness, causing them an immense amount of pain where the sharpness of the pain can be piercing. Your muscle may become extremely hard to the touch and cause involuntary movements or spasms to release or relieve the pain.
The most common muscles to become stiff due to early signs of Parkinson’s are the neck, arms, legs, lower back, and even face.
Slowed Movements
An early but notable symptom of Parkinson’s disease is when you notice yourself becoming gradually slow at day-to-day tasks that should not even have been difficult for you in the first place.
Slowing down may range from taking smaller steps, getting off, or even switching your current position to changing your posture. Initially, it may start off as hesitating to make any movement to slow down performing basic movements eventually.
Parkinson’s affects a part of your brain that controls your movement, including involuntary ones, such as blinking or moving your arms during walks.
It may also appear as a delayed facial expression for some people, which is another form of slowing down in your basic, day-to-day life. This is an involuntary and unpredictable symptom to look out for in those suffering from Parkinson’s.
How Can Red Light Therapy Aid Parkinson’s Disease?
Red light therapy has been proven to be quite effective in terms of containing your situation when suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Although it is not a permanent solution, it does help offer relief and comfort to an extent.
Here are ways red light therapy can help aid Parkinson’s disease –
Reduced Inflammation
Red light therapies are very well-known and popular among people trying to fight inflammation and swelling throughout their body, which is also a popular symptom of early Parkinson’s disease. Increasing blood flow all through the body is one of the best effects to achieve from red light therapy. The more the body can circulate blood, the more energy is used. Therefore, the more inflammation and swelling are reduced throughout their bodies.
Red light reaches deep underneath the skin, boosting blood flow and ensuring all the damaged tissues receive adequate blood. Better blood flow also ensures the damaged tissues heal properly and help the skin appear healthy and glowing.
Potentially Improves Cellular Activities
Both red light and near-infrared light therapies have been proven to be quite successful in stimulating cellular activities for those suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Both these lights can deeply penetrate underneath the skin to reach the mitochondria in a cell, which is known as the “Powerhouse.”
Light therapies have recently proven to be one of the latest treatment for Parkinson’s disease and an effective one at that. Red light increases cellular activities and helps increase the activities of genes responsible for neurogenesis that help form new neurons in the brain.
Fights Fatigue
Most people suffering from Parkinson’s tend to burn themselves out of energy and stamina rather quickly and easily. Since Parkinson’s directly affects one’s motor functions, their energy levels are naturally relatively low and only worsen unless treated.
This is where red light therapy is handy for people suffering from Parkinson’s. Red light has been clinically proven to help fight fatigue and generate more energy for them. It targets the mitochondria, which provide energy to the body and help produce more of it.
Mitochondria are responsible for converting nutrients in the body into chemical energy that fuels your body and allows you to survive and make it through the day with adequate energy. Therefore, red lights targeting mitochondria and boosting activity allow you to fight fatigue and function better.
Bottom Line
Suffering from a disease like Parkinson’s that has no tangible cure can make surviving each day tricky. Since it directly affects your motor functions, affects your mobility, and leaves you feeling tired throughout the day, there is only so much you can do. Although there is no permanent solution or cure to this disease, treatments such as red light and near-infrared light therapies have been proven to be quite helpful.
However, if you can detect some early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, you may be able to help control the severity of the situation with medication and therapies without compromising your daily lifestyle.
