HEALTH CHECK
The 10 little-known signs of Parkinson’s disease you must not ignore as GMB star John Stapleton shares diagnosis
GOOD Morning Britain presenter John Stapleton made a shock announcement that he's been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
The disease is a neurological condition that worsens over time, typically associated with tremors, stiffness and slow movement.
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However, these these symptoms usually appear once significant progression has already occurred.
In John's case, the 78-year-old broadcaster - who's worked on programmes like Newsnight, Panorama and GMTV's News Hour - began to notice changes to his speech.
In an interview on BBC One's Morning Live, he said: "Speaking is how I've earned my living for the best part of 50 years.
"It's very frustrating sometimes, particularly (when) people are constantly saying to you, 'sorry, what did you say?'
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"And you have to repeat yourself, time and time again."
His son Nick appeared alongside John to share the news of his Parkinson's diagnosis, saying he'd noticed a tremor in his dad's hand and increased anxiety.
According to the charity , there are several signs which can surface in the early stages of the disease that are worth speaking to a GP about.
This includes sleep problems, losing your sense of smell, and feeling depressed or anxious.
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Other telltales signs include changes to your handwriting and problems with movement.
Here are the 10 most common early symptoms of the disease.
What is Parkinson's and what are the main symptoms?
1. Problems with your sleep
Night-time issues are common in people with Parkinson's, experts say.
They are more likely to experience insomnia and other sleep disruption due to symptoms like stiffness, pain and restless leg syndrome.
Feeling tired and drowsy during the day is therefore also typical.
2. Losing your sense of smell
Someone with Parkinson’s may notice that their sense of smell isn't as strong as it used to be or has disappeared completely, Parkinson's UK says.
This can sometimes start years before other symptoms develop.
3. Smaller handwriting
Another tell-tale sign is smaller handwriting - either smaller than it was previously or gradually getting tinier on a page.
This is because changes in the brain can cause movements to become reduced or less forceful than before.
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4. Issues with your bladder or bowels
Signs of an overactive bladder, such as needing to use the toilet immediately without warning or needing to go frequently throughout the night, are the most common bladder symptoms of people with Parkinson's, the charity says.
5. Experiencing depression
Depression can be characterised by feelings of extreme sadness or a sense of emotional "emptiness" for a long time.
This can surface in people with Parkinson's months before any other symptoms.
6. Feeling anxious
Anxiety - such as feelings of unease, worry or fear - is also common in the early stages.
This is partly due to the concerns sufferers have about living with a long-term health condition.
According to Parkinson's UK, the most common symptoms of anxiety include: a sense of dread, constant worry or difficulty concentrating, sweating, pounding or racing heart (palpitations), feeling breathless, dizziness or trembling.
John Stapleton's Parkinson's diagnosis
Veteran TV presenter John Stapleton appeared alongside his son Nick to speak about his diagnosis.
In the BBC One segment, Nick shared: "Over the last year, I've started to notice that dad was seeming a bit more anxious, wasn't walking as confidently and he had this tremor in his hand.
"So two months ago, he went for some tests and unfortunately a few days later he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease."
He continued: "It was deeply troubling news."
John reflected: "I am fairly pragmatic about the prospect of this getting worse. I try to remain positive, because what's the point of not being?"
The 78-year-old opened up about his symptoms saying he was experiencing "continuous exhaustion and lack of energy".
"It's a classic symptom of Parkinson's apparently, I'm going to keep taking the tablets and hope it gets better," he said.
John's wife and former BBC Watchdog presenter Lynn Faulds Wood sadly passed away in April 2020, at the age of 72, after a stroke.
She and her husband John Stapleton became a dream team TV couple as they presented Watchdog together between 1985 and 1993.
Read more on John's diagnosis here.
7. Fatigue
Fatigue - tiredness that doesn't go away with rest - affects up to half of all people with Parkinson's.
It is thought to be caused by chemical changes in the brain, but may also be related to other symptoms or features of the condition.
It can fluctuate dramatically day to day, so someone may feel full of energy one day, but be knackered the next.
Fatigue can also present itself physically and mentally, so some people find it challenging to concentrate for long periods without a break.
8. Uncontrollable actions
A more typical symptom of Parkinson's is a tremor - an uncontrollable movement that affects a part of the body.
Usually, this starts as shakes in the hand before "spreading" to the rest of the arm, or down to the foot on the same side of the body.
9. Slow movement
Slowness of movement, also known as bradykinesia, may mean that it takes someone with Parkinson's longer to do things, Parkinson's UK says.
For example, you might struggle with coordination, walking may become more like a shuffle or walking speed may slow down.
Everyday tasks, such as paying for items at a check-out or walking to a bus stop, might take longer to do, it added.
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10. Stiffness, inflexibility and cramps
Rigidity, such as stiff muscles, inflexibility and cramps, is another of the first signs to show.
People may notice they find writing, doing up buttons, getting out of bed, or tying shoe laces more difficult than usual.
What is Parkinson's disease?
PARKINSON'S is a progressive neurological condition.
This means that it causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time.
People with Parkinson's don't have enough of the chemical dopamine in their brain because some of the nerve cells that make it have stopped working.
Around 145,000 people live with Parkinson’s in the UK.
It's the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.
Symptoms start to appear when the brain can’t make enough dopamine to control movement properly.
This usually happens around the age of 50, but some people might see the first signs in their 40s.
There are over 40 symptoms, but the three main ones are:
- A tremor (shaking)
- Slowness of movement
- Rigidity (muscle stiffness)
There are several different treatments, therapies and support available to help manage the condition.
Source: Parkinson's UK
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