Do your hands shake when you pick up a cup, pick up a pen to write, or even reach out to show someone something? This can be a bit embarrassing and sometimes embarrassing. Many people think that this is a normal part of aging. However, it could also be a medical condition called Essential Tremor . Today, we will talk about this in detail, in very simple language that you can understand.
Simply put, what is Essential Tremor?
Essential Tremor is a movement disorder that affects the nervous system. It causes parts of our body, especially our hands, to shake uncontrollably. You can't stop the shaking intentionally. Most often, it affects the hands and arms, but in some people, it can also affect the head, voice, and other parts of the body.
Although it may not be a big problem at first, this condition can gradually worsen over time. When this happens, it is possible to become unable to perform even simple daily tasks such as eating, drinking, and getting dressed properly. This causes many people to become depressed and feel ashamed to face society.
What is the difference between Essential Tremor and Parkinson's disease?
Many people are afraid when they hear the word "shaking hands" and think, "Oh, do I have Parkinson's ?" Although both of these are conditions that cause tremors, there are big differences between them. Let's take a look at what they are.
| Comparison feature | Essential Tremor | Parkinson's Disease |
|---|---|---|
| The occurrence of tremors | It usually occurs when performing an action (e.g., holding a cup, writing). | It usually occurs when you are at rest (e.g., sitting in a chair with your hand on your hip). The tremor decreases with activity. |
| Affected body parts | Mostly hands, head and voice. | Often the arms, legs, buttocks, and face. |
| Other symptoms | Other neurological symptoms are rarely seen. | Other symptoms such as slow movements, body stiffness, and balance problems are common. |
| Descendant | It is often more likely to be inherited from generation to generation (genetics). | Generally, there is less generational inheritance. |
Who gets this condition? How common is it?
Essential Tremor can develop in anyone, but it is more likely to occur as you age. It tends to start especially in young people between the ages of 10-19 and between the ages of 50-59.
The important thing is that it can run in families . That's why it's sometimes called "familial tremor." If your mother, father, or a close relative has this condition, you have a higher chance of developing it too.
This is not as rare as you might think. It is estimated that about 1% of the world's population has this condition. About 5% of people over the age of 60 suffer from this condition.
Nature and symptoms of tremor
The main symptom of this condition is that your hands tremble when you use them to do something. This tremor can come in two main forms:
- Action Tremor: This is the most common type. It means that the tremor occurs when performing an action (e.g., reaching for a glass of water, signing a document).
- Postural Tremor: This is when a part of the body shakes while holding a certain position. For example, shaking while holding the arms straight out in front of you.
Essential Tremor usually affects both sides of the body, but often one side of the body is more shaking than the other. In addition to the hands, the tremor can also affect the head (such as shaking from side to side or up and down), voice (such as speaking with a shaky voice), and face.
The important thing is that this tremor is not dangerous or life-threatening. However, over time, it can have a significant impact on your quality of life, making it difficult to perform daily tasks .
What is the reason for this?
Doctors have not yet found a specific cause for this, but it is believed to be caused by changes in certain parts of the brain, especially the cerebellum, which controls movement.
As we discussed earlier, genetics plays a big role. For about half of people with this condition, it's inherited. Simply put, if one of your parents has the gene for the condition, you have about a 50% chance of inheriting it and developing the condition.
This is not a contagious disease. You cannot catch it from someone else, nor can you catch it from someone else.
How do you find this, Doctor?
Your doctor will diagnose this condition primarily by listening to your symptoms and performing a neurological examination. There is no specific test that can confirm this “yes” or “no” right away.
Therefore, one of the doctor's main goals is to make sure that you don't have other medical conditions that could be causing your tremors. This may involve several tests, such as:
- Blood tests : These help rule out other conditions, such as thyroid problems and Wilson's disease.
- CT scan or MRI scan: These are important to make sure there are no brain tumors or other structural problems.
- Genetic testing: In some cases, this can be done if there is a suspicion of hereditary factors.
What are the treatments?
There is no cure for essential tremor, but there are effective treatments that can help control symptoms and make your life easier.
- Medication: The most commonly used medications are beta-blockers like `Propranolol` and anti-epileptic drugs like `Primidone`. These can significantly reduce tremors.
- Adaptive devices: There are various devices that can help control tremors, including heavier cutlery and tremor-canceling devices.
- Botulinum toxin injections: Injecting this injection into the muscles that cause tremors can temporarily weaken those muscles and reduce tremors.
- Deep brain stimulation: This is a surgical procedure that involves implanting a small device that sends electrical signals to a specific area of the brain that is causing tremors. This blocks the faulty signals that are causing the tremors.
- Focused ultrasound: This is also a modern treatment method. Here, high-frequency sound waves are directed at a very small point in the brain that is causing the tremor, destroying that tissue.
Important warning
Some people may find that drinking a little alcohol temporarily reduces their tremors. However, do not use alcohol as a treatment for this for any reason. It can lead to serious problems such as alcohol addiction. Also, alcohol can interact with some of the medications used for this. So talk to your doctor about this honestly.
How do you take care of yourself?
While living with this condition, there are a few things you can do for yourself.
1. Be honest with your doctor: Don't be shy about telling your doctor about your symptoms and how they're affecting your life. Only then can he or she give you the right treatment.
2. Take your medication as prescribed: Take your medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the right time. Do not stop taking your medication on your own. Some medications can cause side effects if you stop taking them suddenly.
3. Avoid things that increase your tremors: Find out when your tremors increase. Many people experience increased tremors during things like stress, fatigue, and anxiety . Also, drinks containing caffeine, such as coffee , can affect this. Stay away from these as much as possible.
4. Get help from technology: The assistive devices we talked about earlier can make your life a lot easier. Check them out.
When should I see a doctor?
If you have unexplained tremors, definitely see a doctor. Also, if you are already taking medication and your symptoms are getting worse, or you are having trouble with side effects from your medication, see your doctor again.
Essential Tremor is not usually a condition that requires emergency treatment. Therefore, there is no need to go to an ETU (Emergency Treatment Unit). However, if there is a special case that you need to be aware of, your doctor will advise you about it.
Take-Home Message
- Essential Tremor is a neurological condition in which parts of your body, such as your hands, head, or voice, shake uncontrollably when you perform a certain action.
- This is a completely different condition than Parkinson's disease, so don't be afraid of Parkinson's just because your hands are shaking.
- Although it cannot be completely cured, symptoms can be well controlled with medication and other treatments and people can live a normal life.
- Be sure to see a qualified doctor to determine the exact cause of your tremors and to receive the most appropriate treatment for you.
- Don't be ashamed or hide it. This is a common condition that affects many people around the world, and you can get help with proper treatment.
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