Warning Signs Of Essential Tremor

Essential tremor is a neurological disorder where an individual experiences rhythmic and involuntary shaking in any part of their body. An inherited genetic mutation on chromosome 3, chromosome 2, or chromosome 6, is the cause for over half of all diagnosed cases of essential tremor. In the other half of cases, the cause of essential tremor is unknown. There is no particular test to make an essential tremor diagnosis. A physical examination and a thorough neurological examination are used to diagnose essential tremor. MRI scans are used in the process of elimination of disorders that can produce similar symptoms. Some individuals diagnosed with essential tremors do not require treatment. However, medications to help control the shakiness in the body may be necessary to keep symptoms from interfering with daily activities and tasks.

Several warning signs manifest in an essential tremor patient. Get familiar with them now.

Periodic Uncontrollable Shaking

An individual affected by periodic uncontrollable shaking may be affected by essential tremor. This uncontrollable shaking most often occurs in the parts of the body controlled by voluntary muscles. Periodic uncontrollable shaking is most common in an individual's face, head, hands, neck, thumb, and arms. At first, the periodic uncontrollable shaking in the affected body part may be mild and barely noticeable during regular activities. Sometimes these uncontrollable rhythmic movements will cease entirely when the affected muscles are at rest or when the individual is sleeping. At other times the involuntary movements will worsen when the individual is attempting to make a targeted movement with the affected muscles. The periodic shaking can worsen over time as the affected individual advances in age. This involuntary shaking can spread from the body part that has been initially affected on to other body parts depending on the underlying cause of essential tremor.

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Nodding Head

An individual with essential tremor may experience uncontrollably nodding their head. While the most prevalent part of the body to be affected by essential tremor is the hands, some may experience essential tremor in their head. A head tremor precipitated from essential tremor is a regular tremor that exhibits a rhythmic and repeated shaking action an affected individual is unable to control. Around thirty-five percent of all essential tremor patients experience the nodding head or head tremor independently or with hand tremors. An individual who experiences a nodding head caused by essential tremor will not experience a change in their condition upon changing the direction of their head. A nodding head or head tremor associated with essential tremor will disappear when the patient is lying down and sleeping. Individuals who have a family history of tremor are more likely to develop head nodding or a tremor of the head.

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