Parkinson’s disease stages include:
Stage 1: During this initial phase of the disease, a patient usually experiences mild symptoms. These symptoms may inconvenience the day-to-day tasks the patient would otherwise complete with ease. Typically these symptoms will include the presence of tremors or experiencing shaking in one of the limbs.
Also during Stage 1, friends and family can usually detect changes in the Parkinson’s patient including poor posture, loss of balance, and abnormal facial expressions.
A person is categorized as stage II if the following are present:
- Symptoms occur on both sides of the body
- Minimal disability
- Posture and gait are affected.
Medication may be started during stage I or II and typically involves one of the less powerful Parkinson’s disease medications.
Stage 3 of Parkinson’s Disease (Difficult)
- Difficulty in maintaining balance and posture.
- Impairment of walking or standing although sufferer is usually able to do so independently.
- Physical movements are noticeably slow.
Stage Four
- Severe symptoms
- Can still walk to a limited extent
- Rigidity and bradykinesia
- No longer able to live alone
- Tremor may be less than earlier stages
Stage Five
- Cachectic stage
- Invalidism complete
- Cannot stand or walk
- Requires constant nursing care
