While hand tremors are the most common, tremors can occur in more than just one area of your body. Tremors are characterized by involuntary muscle contractions that could impact one or multiple body parts at once, like the hands, limbs, voice, head, and torso. These muscle spasms have different types, with each having its own causes, treatment methods, and severity. Let’s dive deeper into the topic and discuss the causes of shaky hands and what treatment options you have.
First of All, Let’s Understand The Causes of Shaking Hands:
The causes of tremors are one of the trickiest things to pinpoint and require a lot of examination as the list of causes is long and varies from one person to another. But, here are a few general and common causes of hand shaking to help you get an idea of what you could be dealing with.
Aging:
Hand shaking is often associated with aging since it could be triggered by many health conditions that people tend to go through as they age. These tremors are often mild and only occur when your body is moving or when maintaining certain postures. While body tremors are indeed bothersome, generally speaking, they are harmless and don't usually indicate any underlying neurological condition.
Side Effects of Medications:
Central nervous system medications often cause tremors in hands as a side effect of the drug. A few good examples are:
- Drugs that are used to treat asthma.
- Antidepressants.
- Antipsychotics.
- Some anti-seizure medications.
The tremors usually go away once you stop taking the medication or when you adjust your dosage. It's important to notify your doctor when you notice such side effects to either change the drug or agree on a better dose that won't cause any harmful side effects like hand tremors.
Alcohol Withdrawal:
When you consume high quantities of alcohol for an extended period and then suddenly stop, you will start developing hand tremors as a side effect of the alcohol withdrawal from your body. Ranging from mild to severe, "the shakes" usually appear within a day after your last drink. You might need medical intervention to manage such tremors, but worry not, because they are only temporary.
Excessive Caffeine Consumption:
Much like everyone else, it's hard to start your day without your daily dose of caffeine, but too much of it will negatively impact your body, like developing shaking hands. Being a strong stimulant, too much caffeine can overstimulate your central nervous system which eventually causes certain parts of your body to shake, not to mention the restlessness. If you're already experiencing tremors, it's better to either cut off caffeine or limit your consumption of it to avoid causing any further complications.
Do Hand Tremors Have Types?
It's important to remember that treatment options for tremors should be chosen based on their specific type. Tremors can be classified into several types depending on their root cause and characteristics. Your doctor can help you determine which type of tremors you have after a thorough examination and testing. To name a few, here are some common types of hand shaking:
Essential Tremor:
ET is one of the most common types of tremors. It's passed down genetically and typically manifests itself as rhythmic shakiness in the hands, as well as other body parts too because it can affect several body parts at once. It's mostly visible during voluntary movements, which makes it very challenging for people to carry out their day.
Parkinsonian Tremor:
Hence the name, Parkinsonian tremor is caused by Parkinson's disease and is directly related to Parkinsonian syndromes. Among the many different types of hand tremors, this one is considered a resting tremor, meaning that it happens or intensifies when your hand, or the affected body part, is in a resting position. It's defined by a back-and-forth movement of the fingers or thumb, which is known as "pill-rolling" tremors.
Intention Tremor:
This type of tremors in hands only occurs during intentional or voluntary movements of the hands, especially when you're approaching the target your hand is reaching for. Intentional tremors are particularly challenging during certain tasks like writing, eating, or drinking. It's often seen in conditions affecting the cerebellum, such as multiple sclerosis or cerebellar degeneration.
Physiologic Tremor:
Physiologic tremor is a normal tremor that everyone experiences to some extent like mild hand shaking during anxious situations. In most cases, it's fine and invisible to the naked eye, but in some situations—such as when you're tired, anxious, or have consumed too much caffeine—it can become more noticeable. Physiologic tremors can affect your hands, arms, or other muscles in your body.
The Diagnosis Process:
The diagnosis process could be a bit long and demanding, but you have to be cooperative with your healthcare providers to get the proper diagnosis and build your treatment plan according to it. The process usually includes the following steps:
Medical History:
Your doctor will begin by asking you to provide them with your detailed medical history because it's very helpful for them to gather useful clues and gain more insight into your shaky hands situation. They will probably ask you about the onset and characteristics of your tremors, your family's neurological history, your medication use, medication use, etc.
Physical Examination:
You also have to go through a comprehensive physical examination to properly assess your motor functions and overall condition. Your doctor will be checking for signs of neurological abnormalities, muscle weakness, and rigidity, and study the possibilities of movement disorders. Moreover, your doctor will be mainly observing the hand tremor's nature, noting its frequency, amplitude, and distribution over your body.
Neurological Examination:
This examination will mainly focus on evaluating multiple aspects of your nervous system's functions, like reflexes, motor skills, muscle tone, and overall body coordination. Although the examination wouldn't only focus on your hand tremors, worry not, because every detail counts when it comes to diagnosis.
Laboratory Tests:
Your doctor might ask for some blood tests to further assess the underlying conditions that could be causing your shakiness, such as disorders and dysfunctions, electrolyte imbalances, or metabolic abnormalities. You may also have to do some additional tests, like MRI or CT scans if your doctor suspects a certain structural brain abnormality or other conditions related to your central nervous system.
What Are The Treatment Options?
After you get the proper diagnosis, your doctor will probably suggest one of the following treatment options, according to the underlying causes of your shaky hands.
Medications:
Medications are usually the first line of defense and treatment your doctor will suggest, depending on the causes and severity of your shakiness. Doctors usually prescribe beta-blockers, like propranolol and primidone, for their role in blocking the action of adrenaline in your body, which eventually leads to reducing the severity of your hand tremors. In certain situations, such as essential tremors or other movement problems, anticonvulsants like topiramate or gabapentin may also be used to treat tremors.
Therapy:
Therapies are one of the more effective and natural ways of managing shaky hands. For instance, occupational therapy can teach you how to improve your hand stability and coordination through the use of certain methods and techniques, while physical therapy can help you strengthen your muscles through a variety of exercises that eventually result in improved balance and reduced tremor amplitude.
Surgical Intervention:
Some surgeries could also be very beneficial in managing your hand shaking problem. For example, there are options like deep brain stimulation, which involves adopting electrodes into particular brain regions to regulate aberrant activity and lessen tremor intensity, and thalamotomy which involves creating a small lesion in the thalamus to reduce tremors and manage abnormal brain activity.
Lifestyle Adjustments:
Lifestyle adjustments can remarkably alleviate your hand tremors. Pinpointing and avoiding shakiness triggers can play a huge role in minimizing the severity of your tremors, which is a great compliment to your current treatment plan if you have one. Additionally, having a balanced diet that includes all of the nutrients your nervous system needs to function properly, getting enough sleep, and working out could make all the difference you're looking for, especially if you're not at a severe stage yet.
Steadi-Two, Your Helping Hand:
At SteadiWear, we’re fully dedicated to providing you with the aid and assistance you need throughout your treatment plan. Whether through useful information about your condition, or the special aid our Steadi-Two glove provides, our team of professionals is here to help.
Made using cutting-edge technology and extended research, our Steadi-Two glove is made to absorb your tremors and rid you of your shakiness so you can carry out your day peacefully and without any obstructions. It’s lightweight, battery-free, and easy to use and carry, making it the only helping hand you’ll ever need.
FAQs:
Why am I Shaking?
As we’ve discussed in this blog, shakiness or tremors are often caused by an underlying medical condition that could be a disorder, a dysfunction, or a genetic effect, or can simply be due to being too anxious or consuming too much caffeine so it could be anything. Tremors can have several causes and pinpointing them is tricky, so it’s best to consult with your doctor for better assessment.
How to Stop Shaking from Anxiety Immediately?
Breathing slowly and deeply can assist your body in regaining its composure. Your body releases a lot of adrenaline when you are frightened or anxious; this chemical release is a defensive biological response that might feel overwhelming. Breathing more slowly might lessen the tremors and help stop an adrenaline rush.
Can Hand Tremors be Cured?
Certain illnesses that cause shaky hands may not have a cure, but as we've discussed earlier in the blog, several treatment options can help control your hand tremors and enhance your everyday life, such as medication, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes.
Learn more about the Steadi-Two- a revolutionary glove designed to reduce hand tremors.
In Conclusion:
Having to go through such a restricting condition like shakiness can be very frustrating, but there’s always a solution. Keep working closely and cooperatively with your doctor and you’ll eventually start noticing the difference. Meanwhile, focus on your well-being in every aspect, by getting enough sleep, exercising, and providing your body with the nutrients it needs through a healthy and balanced diet.
