What’re the stages of Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease may also be described by five stages:
Stage I (mild or early disease): Symptoms affect only one side of the body. Symptoms are present as inconvenient but not disabling. Usually tremor of one limb will happen. And changes in posture, locomotion, and facial expression will be noticed.
Stage II: Both sides of the body are affected, but posture remains normal. The patient has minimal disability, his posture and gait affected, but responds well to medication.
Stage III (moderate disease): Both sides of the body are affected, and there is mild imbalance during standing or walking. However, the person remains independent. Balance on walking or standing is impaired. The patient has generalized disability, moderately severe. Predictable “wearing off” effects of medication, on-off fluctuations, and dyskinesias will be noticed.
Stage IV (advanced disease): Both sides of the body are affected, and there is disabling instability while standing or walking. The person in this stage requires substantial help. But tremor may be less than earlier stages
Stage V: Severe, fully developed disease is present. The person is restricted to a bed or chair. There’re motor fluctuations and cognitive impairment. The patient requires constant nursing care. |