Tremors

What are Tremors?

Shaking and trembling which occur involuntarily are referred to as tremors. These movements are unintentional and often rhythmic involving oscillations of muscles to and fro. Tremors can occur in the hands, arms, legs, trunk, head, face, and vocal cords – although they most commonly occur in the hands. Tremors are symptoms of another deeper neurological disorder but it is not a life-threatening condition in itself. Tremors can be short-term or chronic depending on the cause.

There are two categories of tremors – rest tremors or action tremors. Rest tremors occur when the body is generally aggravated by mental stress. Such types of tremors are also symptomatic of Parkinson’s disease. Action tremors on the other hand occur while performing some task or action. Action tremors are caused by a number of illnesses or conditions or as a side effect of certain medications.

What are Essential Tremors?

Essential tremors or benign essential tremors are the most common types of tremors. In some cases, essential tremors can be mild and affect only a particular area of the body. In other more severe cases, essential tremors may start off mild but gradually progress to different parts of the body. Within a period of three years, this type of tremor may affect both sides of the body. Areas affected include the hands, the legs, tongue, trunk and voice. There may also be disturbance to the posture and a person’s stride as a result of these tremors. Essential tremors can be severe enough to affect your ability to perform simple tasks. These tremors can be aggravated by stress, illness, fatigue, or low blood sugar.

The rhythmic trembling pattern of essential tremors tends to set in after the age of 40 though it is not unheard of for younger people to suffer from this condition as well.

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