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:
ET 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.
The Nervous System
Benign essential tremor occur when faulty nerve cells (or circuits) in the brain send abnormal signals to muscles.
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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:
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,
) to rule out other causes, like:
Most people with ET do not require treatment. Mild tremors may be relieved or even eliminated by simple measures, including:
Talk to your doctor about any medications that you are taking. The following treatment options may be helpful:
Surgery may be an option in rare cases where tremors are disabling and medications don’t help. Two approaches are possible.
There is no known way to prevent ET.
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