Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that begins slowly and progresses over time. Tremor on 1 side, typically in the hand or arm, is the most common symptom. Other common symptoms include slowness, stiffness and difficulty with walking and balance. Additional possible symptoms include:
• Loss of smell
• Monotone speech
• Non-motor symptoms such as depression, anxiety, constipation, acting out dreams
• Reduced facial expression and decreased blinking of the eyes
• Shuffling gait with reduced arm swing, typically 1 side
• Small handwriting
• Swallowing problems