All About Parkinson’s Disease
What are the possible complications of Parkinson’s disease?
Chewing and swallowing (dysphagia) difficulties - more commonly affects people during the later stages of the disease.
Depression, anxiety - sometimes depression may occur before other Parkinson’s symptoms appear. According to the National Parkinson’s Foundation, USA, it is thought that up to 50% of patients with PD experience a mood disturbance at some point during their illness.
Sexual dysfunction - some patients experience a drop in libido (sex drive). Sexual dysfunction affects more males than females.
Sleep - patients often wake up during the night. A significant number of individuals with Parkinson’s disease find it hard to fall asleep. Being sleepy and falling asleep during the day is also common.
Urinary incontinence or retention - some patients may leak while others find it hard to pee properly. Sometimes this may be due to medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
- Hypotension when standing up (blood pressure drops upon standing from seated or lying position)
- Involuntary twitching/jerking of arms and legs
- Hallucinations
- Drowsiness
- Obsessive compulsive behavior
This Parkinson's disease information section was written by Christian Nordqvist for Medical News Today, and may not be re-produced in any way without the permission of Medical News Today.
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Further information
Disclaimer: This guide is provided for general information purposes only. The materials contained within this guide do not constitute medical or pharmaceutical advice, which should be sought from qualified medical and pharmaceutical advisers. Full disclaimer.
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