Benign essential tremor (ET) is a movement disorder most commonly noticed by shaking in the hands. It occurs in as much as 10% of people over the age of 60. It may also cause shaking of the head, voice, arms, and trunk. It occurs less often in the legs and feet. Two types of tremor are common with ET:
Postural tremor—shaking in certain positions only, such as with arms outstretchedKinetic or action tremor—shaking that gets worse during activities, such as eating or shavingET can be socially isolating in some cases. It may interfere with normal daily activities such as writing or speaking. Contact your doctor for an evaluation if you think you have ET.
The cause of ET is unknown. It does run in families. It is often called familial tremor when it is inherited. Children of parents with ET have a 50% chance of inheriting the condition.
In cases where there is no family history of tremor, other factors, such as toxins, may play a role. The role is far from clear. It is thought that essential tremor starts from abnormalities of specific circuits in the brain. This is an area that researchers are studying.
Family history of tremors is the only known risk factor for ET. The condition may occur at any age. It is more likely to occur in people older than 40 years old.
ET is generally not serious, but its severity may vary and worsen over time. Symptoms may include:
Tremor that occurs when standing or moving the limbs, but not usually at restUncontrollable, rhythmic, up-and-down movementShaking in hands, arms, head, voice, trunk, legs, or feet on both sidesShaking only in certain positions or during activityTrouble with fine motor skills, such as drawing, sewing, or playing an instrumentShaking that gets worse from caffeine, stress, fatigue, or heatHearing loss
(Some cases are associated with hearing loss.)
Problems with social, functional, or job-related abilities (More severe cases interfere with these abilities.)Tremors must not be related to other health conditions in order for someone to have the ET diagnosis.
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and your medical and family history. A physical exam will be done. Attention will be paid to the central nervous system. There are no special tests to diagnose ET. You may have blood, urine, or other tests (eg,
MRI
) to rule out other causes, like:
Parkinson's diseaseElevated thyroid hormoneLow blood sugarStrokeMedications
Most people with ET do not require treatment. Mild tremors may be relieved or even eliminated by simple measures, including:
Staying well-restedAvoiding caffeineAvoiding stimulants often found in over-the-counter medications, like cold remediesAvoiding temperature extremesTalk to your doctor about any medications that you are taking. The following treatment options may be helpful:
Beta-blocker, such as
propranolol
(a blood pressure medication)
Anti-seizure medications, such as
primidone
(eg, Mysoline),
gabapentin
(eg, Neurontin),
topiramate
(eg, Topamax),
zonisamide
(Zonegran)
Sedatives (benzodiazepines)Olanzapine
(antipsychotic drug)
Botulinum injections
(used in rare situations)
Surgery may be an option in rare cases where tremors are disabling and medications don’t help. Two approaches are possible.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS)—sends painless electrical pulses to the brain, interrupting faulty signals.Thalamotomy—destroys a tiny part of the brain generating the tremors (less commonly performed than DBS)There is no known way to prevent ET.
Last reviewed November 2012 by Rimas Lukas, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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