We immediately think of Parkinson’s disease when we hear of people’s hands shaking. We believe that not all hand tremors are a result of the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Hand tremors can be developed for a number of reasons, including medical conditions, neurological conditions, or even temporary lifestyle choices.

A tremor describes an involuntary and rhythmic shaking, especially in the hands, but can also affect the head, voice, or legs. It is essential to understand the reasons for hand tremors. This is because the treatment can only be determined after the underlying condition is diagnosed. The earlier the appropriate medical attention is given, the more the quality of life is improved.

What Are Hand Tremors?

Hand tremors are uncontrollable and repetitive movements of the hands. They can be present when the hands are in motion, at rest, or even when the hands are assumed to be stationary, such as in the case of the hands being stretched out in front in a fixed manner.

The degree of the tremors is quite subjective, as other people may feel the tremors are a nuisance while other people can just feel a slight shake.

Other Hand Tremor Causes Apart from Parkinson’s Disease

Although a diagnosis of Parkinson’s can cause hand tremors, it is not the only condition that hand tremors can be a result of.

Essential Tremor

Essential Tremor is the most common of the movement disorders and can affect hands while they are writing, eating, or even drinking. It is familial in many cases and, in most cases, is benign and gradually gets easier to notice with age.

Anxiety and Stress

Anxiety and stress can induce hand shaking. Typically, these kinds of tremors resolve after the stressor subsides.

Medication Side Effects

Shaking hands can be a side effect of some asthma medications, select antidepressants and some stimulants. If you developed tremors after starting a new medication, your doctor can help.

Overactive Thyroid

Symptoms of an overactive thyroid include weight loss, rapid heartbeat and hand shaking.

Low Blood Sugar

Diabetes can cause hand shaking during episodes of hypoglycemia. In these instances, the treatment of the symptoms is the consumption of a food or drink that increases blood sugar.

Excessive Caffeine

Those who are sensitive to caffeine can experience hand shaking after consuming high quantities of caffeinated beverages.

Other Neurological Conditions

Hand shaking is a symptom of many nerve disorders, such as multiple sclerosis and stroke, but these conditions usually have other accompanying symptoms of neurologic origin.

Signs and Symptoms of Hand Tremors

Hand tremors can be accompanied by many different symptoms depending on the cause, but typically include:

• The shaking of one or both hands
• Difficulty writing or typing
• Difficulty holding a spoon, cup, etc.
• Tremors that worsen with movement or stress
• Difficulty completing tasks that require good fine motor skills
• Weakness of the muscles in some cases
• Difficulty standing or walking if there is an accompanying neurologic condition

Tremors that interfere with daily life should be evaluated by a neurologist.

Diagnosing Hand Tremors

There is no one answer for diagnosing hand tremors. It is a doctor’s responsibility to rule out other possibilities over many evaluations.

Your neurologist may suggest:

• Comprehensive medical history
• Neurological assessment
• Evaluation of the context of tremors
• Examination of medications
• Blood tests for thyroid function, blood sugar, vitamins
• MRI or CT, considering other neurological disorders

The doctor will ask about your lifestyle, family history, and the context of the tremors. They will also look for any other accompanying symptoms.

Available Treatments

All treatment options depend on the cause.

Essential Tremor may require medications to lessen the tremors. For patients for whom the medications do not help, they may be referred for MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound.

If the tremors are attributed to stress and anxiety, treatments for stress and anxiety, such as relaxation, may be prescribed. Tremors caused by thyroid disorders are treated, and if the tremors are caused by low blood sugar, then improving the diet of the patient to prevent low blood sugar may be required.

There are several lifestyle changes that may improve mild tremors. There is a strong correlation between tremors and caffeine consumption.

When to See a Neurologist

You should seek a medical opinion if the tremors are now a daily occurrence. Worsening tremors that are now impacting daily activities such as eating or writing should also be evaluated. It is also important to see a neurologist if tremors are accompanied by numbness or loss of coordination.

Early identification and treatment before the disability caused by a disorder worsens is preferable.

Conclusion

Hand tremors do not directly translate to a diagnosis of Parkinson’s. Causes of hand tremors can be countless. They can be caused by essential tremor, disorders of the thyroid, the side effects of medication, anxiety, and a variety of other neurological disorders. Finding the causative factor is of utmost importance. This will allow treatment to be initiated and will greatly assist in improving the hand tremor sufferer’s quality of life.

The neurologists at Royal Care Neurosciences are specialists in the assessment and management of hand tremors and movement disorders. Following a detailed assessment, there are numerous treatment options available to patients, including MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound MRgFUS.

FAQs

1. Are hand tremors only caused by Parkinson’s disease?

No. There are many causes of hand tremors, including essential tremor, anxiety, thyroid disorders, the side effects of medication, and low blood sugar. There are numerous other causes besides Parkinson’s.

2. How is a hand tremor diagnosed?

A diagnosis usually involves taking a medical history, neurological exam, a blood sample, and possibly imaging (CT or MRI) to assist in determining the cause of the hand tremor.

3. How long do hand tremors have to exist before seeing a neurologist?

Hand tremors should be evaluated by a neurologist if the tremors are worsening, distracting, or are associated with weakness, imbalance, or difficulty with speech.