A brain disorder that results in unintended or uncontrollable movements known as Parkinson’s disease has various symptoms that will worsen over time. With no known cure, there are treatments and medications such as Austedo, Levodopa, and Rotigotine that can help with symptom management. The sooner you receive a diagnosis, the sooner you can begin treatment to help with any discomfort you experience with symptoms. Here are early warning signs of Parkinsons you should watch out for:

1. Tremors and shaking

The characteristic sign of Parkinson’s is tremor, shaking, and unintended or uncontrollable movements at rest. This tremor may show up in the hands, legs, arms, jaw, or head and can begin on one side of the body; however, as time passes and the disease progresses, this may begin to affect both sides. Levodopa is the medication most commonly prescribed for tremors.

2. Trouble staying asleep and movements

Have you been having trouble staying asleep? Or has your partner told you you’ve been moving around in your sleep a lot? This could be a sign of Parkinson’s. Patients with Parkinson’s often report waking up from pain or tremors, difficulty getting comfortable, and excessive urination at night—all of which can make falling asleep a challenge.

3. Difficulty moving or walking

While moving and walking are things people without Parkinson’s don’t even need to think about, patients with the disease deal with gait abnormalities and poor balance, making movements much more difficult. Controlling muscles is challenging, especially when stopping and starting movements, and movements become slower.

4. Constipation

If you’re having trouble passing stools, have less than 3 bowel movements a week, or experiencing a feeling of not fully emptied bowels, you are likely constipated. This is a symptom of Parkinson’s as the disorder may affect the muscles or nerves around the bowel system.

5. Hunching over

As Parkinson’s impacts automatic activities, like movements and walking, it has an effect on posture as well. You may appear stooped, hunched, or have rounded shoulders as a result of things like muscle stiffness or concentration on a different activity that takes away from your focus on posture. It’s important to remind yourself to stand and sit up straight as after some time, poor posture can cause neck pain, lack of balance, and impact your ability to take deep breaths.

6. Speech problems

Individuals with Parkinson’s can experience issues with their speech, such as slurring, mumbling, slow, stammering, or soft speaking—being unable to communicate effectively can be challenging to deal with. This occurs as a result of damaged nerves in the brain.