When your hands shake, it can be an alarming experience, bringing to mind serious neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis. But often, hand tremors are harmless, said Dr. Trisha Pasricha recently in the Washington Post. In other cases, they can signify a condition that warrants medical attention. These are 10 things your hand tremors might mean, and when you should consult a doctor.
"We all have a very low-amplitude, high-frequency tremor that's considered normal," said Pasricha. "Try placing a sheet of paper on your outstretched hand, palm side up, and you'll see what I mean."
Extreme fear, anxiety, or fatigue can cause your hands to shake, says Pasricha.
A fever, hyperthyroidism, or low blood sugar can also cause a hand tremor.
Vigorous exercise can also cause a hand tremor, says Pasricha.
"Certain drugs, such as antidepressants like SSRIs or SNRIs, albuterol, prednisone, nicotine and caffeine," can cause your hands to shake, the doctor says.
Alcohol and opioid withdrawal can also cause shaking. Experts say stopping heavy drug or alcohol use should be handled with a doctor's advice.
"There are some important times when a tremor is a sign of an underlying condition such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis," says Pasricha. "If you have a new tremor with no obvious trigger, talk to your doctor."
If your tremor occurs more with action or seems to happen only when writing, "You may have an essential tremor, which is very common," says Pasricha. "Patients with essential tremor describe scenarios like trying to type on a keyboard and accidentally hitting the same key over and over, trouble holding their hands steady to shave or frustration with food falling off their fork before it can reach their mouths." Essential tremor can be treated with medication or therapies like weighted gloves.
"Tremor is the first symptom in roughly 3 out of 4 people with Parkinson's disease," says Pasricha. With Parkinson's, "the tremor often starts in just one hand while at rest (sometimes appearing as if the thumb and forefinger are 'rolling a pill' back and forth), but may also occur in the leg or foot." Medication is available to treat the condition.
Many people with MS also experience tremors. They "may experience 'attacks' of neurological symptoms, like sudden loss of sensation on one side or trouble with their vision, that seem to improve on their own before another episode begins," the doctor says.
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This rare condition most often surfaces in young patients, in whom a genetic defect causes copper to accumulate in certain parts of the body, like the liver, joints, and brain.
