Essential tremor, also called kinetic tremor, is a neurological disorder that causes shaking (tremors) throughout the body. The tremors can affect the hands, face, head, forearms, and other parts of the body, including the larynx (your voice box). Katherine Hepburn suffered from essential tremor, which affected her head and larynx and was the reason for the distinct sound and nature of her voice.
The symptoms of essential tremor can vary greatly from person to person. It is not a life-threatening disease, but it can interfere with daily living for some people. The main symptoms of essential tremor are shakiness and twitching. You may have a slight shake in your hand that is barely perceptible, or you may have a tremor in your neck that causes your head to shake up and down or side to side. Stress, cigarette smoking, and caffeine can all cause tremors to worsen.
Diagnosing essential tremor may require testing, such as an EEG or EP, to determine if there is an underlying neurological cause for the tremors. These tests are non-invasive and performed by specialists.
There is no known cause for essential tremor, but millions of people in the United States live with it. Even though the cause of essential tremor remains unknown, there is research being done to determine if there is a detectable change in the brain that precipitates the onset of essential tremor. For now, the treatment of essential tremor is focused on quality of life for the patient.
While there is no cure for essential tremor, the disease progresses slowly. There are certain medications that can either depress the tremor response or reduce adrenaline output to prevent tremors from becoming unmanageable. Some patients with essential tremor have seen results from Botox injections to reduce tremors in the hands and fingers. Some patients may benefit from a surgery or a treatment called deep brain stimulation, but the best course of treatment will depend on the severity of your tremors, how they impact your independence and ability to function, and whether or not you are in pain.
To stop chronic shaking, schedule an appointment today with Complete Neurological Care, located in Queens, Downtown Manhattan, Midtown Manhattan, Long Island, Upper West Side, the Bronx, and New Jersey. Our expert neurologists offer the skills and technology necessary to diagnose and treat your neurological concerns.