In a client with Parkinson's disease, which symptom should the nurse expect?

In a client with Parkinson's disease, the symptom most commonly expected is coughing when drinking liquids. This occurs due to the impairment of the swallowing mechanism, which is often affected in individuals with Parkinson's. The disease can cause deterioration of motor control, leading to dysphagia, or difficulty in swallowing. As a result, clients may exhibit increased risk of aspiration or coughing when trying to consume liquids, which can potentially lead to more serious complications such as pneumonia.

Other symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease can include resting tremors, but this is capable of being non-prominent or varying in intensity and doesn’t always manifest as increased hand tremors specifically when at rest. Similarly, the disease typically leads to a reduction in emotional expression known as "masked facies," rather than an increase in positive facial emotions. Improved swallowing function is generally not anticipated, as impairment in this area is a key concern in the progression of the disease. Understanding these aspects helps in recognizing and managing the challenges faced by individuals with Parkinson's disease.