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Got shaky hands (tremors)?

hands

Hand tremors are pretty common. In some cases, the issue is entirely normal; in others, further medical evaluation is needed. Mostly all folks with the condition agree that using their hands for daily tasks can be challenging at times.

What are tremors?

Tremors are involuntary muscle contractions that can cause body parts to shake. Everyone has a slight tremor when moving or maintaining a particular posture. This is called a physiologic tremor.

Physiologic tremors are often so small that a person does not see or notice them. Hand tremors may be more noticeable when someone holds their hands out straight in front of the body or when they are stressed or anxious.

Tremors can range in intensity and primarily affect hands but can occur elsewhere on the body:

Head

Arms

Legs

Torso

Voice box (larynx, shaky voice)

What brings on tremors?

It is normal to have slight tremors, but they can become more noticeable with…

Age

Stress

Low blood sugar

Anxiety

Lethargy

Excessive caffeine intake

Heat or cold temps

Overactive thyroid

Liver or kidney failure

Mercury poisoning

Inherited degenerative disorders

Neurological conditions that can cause tremors:

Multiple sclerosis (MS)—A degenerative disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord, making it difficult for the nerves to relay messages. MS can cause several tremors.

Parkinson’s disease—A disease that involves a loss of nerve cells in a part of the brain that plays a critical role in the motor movement. About 75 percent of people with the disease have tremors, whether resting, action, or mixed.

Stroke—Someone who has had a stroke can show many tremors depending on which area of the brain was affected.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)—Tremors after brain injury, also known as post-traumatic tremors, are a rare side effect of TBI. They mainly occur after damage to the cerebellum.

Dystonia—The condition is caused by damage or degeneration of the brain (e.g., after a brain injury or stroke) or exposure to particular drugs. Patients usually have a shake in their hands when they are performing a task rather than at rest.

Medications

Certain drugs within the following categories can bring on hand tremors:

Asthma drugs

Antidepressants

Seizure meds

Cancer meds

Antibiotics

Amphetamine

Corticosteroids

Meds that suppress the immune system

Heart meds

Antiviral meds

Essential tremors

The most common cause of shaking hands for adults is essential tremors. Essential tremors are not well understood. They are thought to be caused by a disruption in the normal functioning of parts of your central nervous system, such as your cerebellum. These types of tremors run in families sometimes. In fact, about 50 percent of cases of essential tremors are thought to be genetic, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

If your shaky hands are caused by essential tremors, there’s no cure, but there are ways to manage. The condition, which often begins in adolescence or your 40s, may worsen as you age.

Researchers aren’t entirely sure what causes the neurological interruption or how to stop it. They’re also unclear as to whether it’s a degenerative process.

Can you stop your hands from shaking?

Many people have resorted to trying a few of the suggestions below to help control their shaky hands:

Lifestyle changes: The following lifestyle changes may help to reduce hand tremors in people with enhanced physiologic tremors (more noticeable form affecting hands and fingers on both sides):

Treating underlying conditions: Hand tremors that occur due to an underlying condition, such as hyperthyroidism or alcohol withdrawal, typically improve following treatment for the underlying condition.

Psychological techniques: People who experience tremors due to anxiety or panic attacks may benefit from practicing relaxation techniques, such as mindfulness and breathing exercises.

Switching medications: Tremors can be a side effect of taking certain drugs. A person who experiences tremors while taking medication should report the side effect to their doctor. The doctor may be able to adjust the medication dosage or switch the person to a different drug.

Physical therapy: A physical therapist can teach people exercises to improve the following:

Occupational therapy: An occupational therapist can help people living with tremors to continue engaging in their usual daily activities.

What therapies treat shaky hands?

A therapist may recommend one or more strategies to help ease the symptoms of essential tremors. Suggestions may include:

What about surgery?

A doctor is unlikely to recommend surgery as your first treatment option for tremors. Surgical treatments are typically reserved for people who have severely disabling tremors. Surgery may become an option as you age or if therapies do not help the tremors.

When to see a doctor

Anyone who suddenly develops tremors in their hands or other body parts should see their doctor for a diagnosis. A medical provider must rule out more severe causes, some of which may require prompt medical treatment. While there’s no cure for most hand tremors, therapies and lifestyle changes may provide relief, depending on the cause.

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