Parkinson’s disease is a condition that causes the brain to become progressively more damaged over time, said the NHS. You could be at risk of the neurodegenerative condition if you find that you’re unusually dizzy, without any obvious reason, it’s been revealed.
Parkinson’s is caused by a loss of nerve cells in a specific part of the brain.
These nerve cells are used to help send messages between the brain and the nervous system.
Parkinson’s disease symptoms tend to develop gradually, and only appear as mild at first.
One of the earliest signs of the condition is having persistently runny noses, it’s been revealed.
People with Parkinson’s are more likely to have a runny nose – or rhinorrhoea, as it’s medically known.
It’s not necessarily linked to a viral infection or allergies in Parkinson’s patients, which are the usual causes for runny noses.
Rhinorrhea tends to be one of the earliest tell-tale signs of the brain condition, according to the American Parkinson Disease Association’s chief scientific officer, Dr Rebecca Gilbert.
A runny nose may also be caused by another condition, however, so if it’s accompanied by any other symptoms, you should see a doctor.
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“People with Parkinson’s disease and care partners may suspect that a particular symptom is related to Parkinson’s disease, but they can’t find information about it, so they are not sure,” said Dr Gilbert
“Two symptoms that pop up in this category are runny nose and breathing problems.
“Runny nose, or rhinorrhoea in medical jargon, is an annoying symptom that has been shown in a number of studies to be more common among people with Parkinson’s disease than those without Parkinson’s disease.
“Rhinorrhoea can be an early feature of Parkinson’s disease, sometimes present at the time of diagnosis.”
But, just because you have a runny nose, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have Parkinson’s disease.
Everyone gets a runny nose now and then, and it’s usually caused by having a cold or allergies.
You don’t usually need to see a doctor about a runny nose, and it should clear up by itself within a few days.
But, you should speak to a GP if your runny nose doesn’t go away within 10 days, or if you have blood in your nasal discharge.
Common signs of Parkinson’s disease include tremors, slow movement, and muscle stiffness.
The muscle stiffness makes facial expressions more difficult, said the charity.
Tremors usually start in the hand or the arm, and are more likely to occur when the arm is relaxed.
There are about 145,000 people in the UK with Parkinson’s disease, and it’s the fastest growing neurological condition in the world.
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