Essential Tremor
Essential tremor is a neurological chaos which causes involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body, usually the head and hands. Sometimes the voice is affected and sounds quivery. The tremors typically worsen when the hands are being used, and reduce significantly or stop altogether when the hands are resting. For some people, the condition worsens if they hold their bodies in certain positions. Generally, essential tremor gradually gets worse with advancing age. The cause is unknown and there is no cure, although drugs and surgery may help. It is thought that around six in every 100,000 people are affected by this condition. Older people are most susceptible, but anyone of any age can develop essential tremor - a person can even be born with it. Essential tremor and Parkinson's disease are different disorders.
Symptoms
The symptoms of essential tremor include:
- Voluntary muscles are affected.
- The hands, head and voice are most commonly affected.
- Head nodding, if the head is affected.
- Shaky, quivering voice - if the voice box is affected.
- The tremor is usually mild, rhythmic and fast.
- The tremor is exacerbated by activity or movement.
- The tremor eases when the body part is at rest.
- The tremor stops when the person is asleep.
- The condition worsens with age.
- The legs are rarely involved.
