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Warning-sign checks

Parkinson disease: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services for severe breathing difficulty, ongoing choking, loss of consciousness, or sudden facial weakness, arm weakness or speech trouble.

    Sudden one-sided symptoms may be a stroke and are not typical of the gradual onset of Parkinson disease.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek urgent medical care for:

    • Sudden or rapidly worsening confusion
    • Repeated choking or new difficulty swallowing liquids
    • Hallucinations with severe agitation or unsafe behaviour
    • A significant fall, head injury or suspected broken bone
    • High fever, marked stiffness or reduced consciousness, especially after missed or stopped medicine
    • Thoughts of suicide or immediate risk of self-harm
  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange a routine appointment if you develop gradually worsening slowness, stiffness, tremor or changes in walking.

    These symptoms require assessment but are not usually an emergency.

The article also says

If you already have Parkinson disease, seek a timely review for increasing falls, more frequent “off” periods, new involuntary movements, hallucinations, impulse-control changes, persistent low mood, weight loss or swallowing difficulty.

These may signal a need to adjust treatment or investigate another cause.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Parkinson disease. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.