Tremor refers to involuntary and regular muscle contractions that cause a part of the body, such as the hands, to tremble. Hand tremors are one of the most common problems; they are sometimes completely normal and benign or severe. Hand tremors can be mistaken for Parkinson’s disease.
The most common type of hand tremor, for which there is no specific reason, is called primary hand tremor.
We all have at least mild degrees of hand tremors that are so small that we don’t usually notice them. Hand tremors are more common when we place our hands in front of the body, during stress and anxiety, exposure to cold, ageing, and after consuming caffeine and smoking.
Risk factors that increase our chances of developing hand tremors include genetics and ageing.
Hand tremors can be passed on from parents. However, they are very common with age, especially from 40 onwards.
What are the most important causes of hand tremors?
As we said, hand tremors can be regular or considered a sign of nervous system diseases, side effects of certain drugs, or health problems.
We will explain some of the most important causes of hand tremors.
Typical and increased hand tremors
Reasons that increase the vibration that is naturally present in our hands include the following:
- Stress
- anxiety
- tiredness
- lack of sleep
- Getting too much caffeine
- Doing strength exercises
- Overactive thyroid
Nervous system problems
Hand tremors can occur due to nerve problems in the brain’s deep areas that are responsible for body movements. Such as the following:
- Parkinson’s disease
- MS
- stroke
- Traumatic brain injury
- Dystonia: Dystonia is abnormal contractions of the body muscles, different from tremors, irregular movements, and jumping. Along with dystonia, there can also be a combination of tremors.
health problems
Some problems that cause hand tremors include the following:
- Alcohol abuse
- Depression or post-traumatic stress disorder
- Mercury poisoning
- Liver or kidney dysfunction
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- hyperthyroidism
Medications that cause hand tremors
Here are some medications that cause hand tremors:
- Some asthma medications
- Some drugs related to mental illnesses
- Medications to control seizures
- Heart rhythm control drugs
- Drugs related to cancers
- Immunosuppressive drugs
- Corticosteroids
- Some antibiotics
Why should we take hand tremors seriously?
As we said, hand tremors can indicate severe health conditions, damage, or side effects from medication. Therefore, taking it seriously in case of hand tremors and seeing a doctor is better.
Types of hand tremors
We have two main types of hand tremors:
- Resting tremor: It occurs when the muscles are at rest.
- Movement tremors occur when muscles contract to do something, which is more common than rest tremors.
When should we see a doctor?
If we suddenly experience significant hand tremors, or if we already have hand tremors and they become more severe or interfere with our daily activities, it is better to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Treatment methods for hand tremors
If the cause of hand tremors is known, it can be resolved by treating the underlying cause. However, if our hand tremors are of the primary type, there is no definite treatment for them, and they can only be reduced by using some measures or medicines.
Some anticonvulsants, alone or in combination with medications such as propranolol, are used to treat hand tremors. These are prescribed according to the doctor’s opinion.
Sometimes, the doctor uses botulinum toxin or Botox to weaken the muscle that contracts continuously and reduce the intensity of tremors.
In addition, a series of devices have been produced to help us do our daily tasks.
According to the doctor, surgical methods can also control hand tremors.
Necessary recommendations to reduce hand tremors
Hand tremors of the initial type are not dangerous, but they can annoy us over time. Here are some suggested solutions to reduce hand tremors:
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine
- Avoid stressful situations as much as possible.
- Using techniques to calm the mind, such as yoga
- Consult your doctor about the medications you are taking that may aggravate the condition of hand tremors.
- Do not do strength sports.
- Visit our doctor regularly and at scheduled visits so that he can monitor our conditions and prescribe appropriate treatment.
- Learn what causes our hand tremors and avoid them.
- Use devices that can adapt us to vibration conditions.
Ways to prevent hand tremors
If our hand tremors are of the primary type, they happen unpredictably, so we cannot prevent them from occurring. Unless we mention other causes, the underlying factor that caused it should be corrected.