Serious Symptoms Of Parkinson's Disease

Issues with Sleep

Issues with sleep can sometimes be an early sign of Parkinson's disease. With that said, many other conditions can lead to sleep problems. Some individuals find they experience sleep issues before they note any motor control issues. Because doctors tend not to consider Parkinson's disease until motor symptoms begin, this might not always aid in early diagnosis. Several different sleep issues often occur in Parkinson's disease patients. Some experience insomnia, nightmares, and excessive sleepiness during the day. 'Sleep attacks' are also possible, which are episodes in which someone involuntarily falls asleep. REM sleep behavioral disorders might occur, and these can cause patients to act out their dreams because their bodies aren't paralyzed during sleep. Restless legs syndrome and periodic leg movement disorder are also common, as is sleep apnea, a condition that causes individuals to stop breathing intermittently during the night. Some patients report nocturia, which is a frequent need to get up and urinate during the night. Studies have also found associations between Parkinson's disease and narcolepsy.

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