Parkinson’s

such movements may be indicative of Parkinson’s. The PF notes that periodic tossing and turning is normal, as is quick jerks of the body during initial sleep and in lighter stages of sleep are common and should not be mistaken for Parkinson’s.

• Stiffness: Stiffness related to current or past injuries or even arthritis is not indicative of Parkinson’s. But stiffness in the arms, body and legs that is unrelated to injury or arthritis and does not go away with movement might be a sign of Parkinson’s. The PF notes that people sometimes describe this symptom by saying their feet feel stuck to the floor when they try to move.

• Constipation: People who strain to move their bowels might be showing an early sign of Parkinson’s. However, various factors, such as dehydration and a diet without adequate fiber, can cause constipation. In addition, men and women on medication may want to look into side effects of their medications to determine if their medicine, and not Parkinson’s, is the cause of their difficulty moving their bowels.

These are just a few potential early indicators of Parkinson’s disease. Information about additional symptoms is available at parkinson.org.