Seteveryone, starting from children to the elderly,may experience shaking hands, generallybecause tired, cold, angry, or scared. However, this complaint can't be underestimatedif it happens often or accompaniedi other symptoms.
Elderly people often experience shaking hands, for example when pouring drinks or trying to reach certain objects. These symptoms can indeed be a sign of natural aging that occurs normally.
But on the other hand, shaking hands risk being an early symptom of a more dangerous disease. In severe cases, shaking hands can be a sign of neurological disorders related to degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease.
Shaking hands are generally caused by a disturbance in the brain that controls body movements. These involuntary and unwanted movements can be mild or severe, temporary or chronic, depending on the underlying cause.
Danger di Flip Hand Shaking
Shaking hands that persist, or are felt frequently, may indicate certain diseases or conditions, such as:
- Essential tremor, which is shaking of a body part when it is about to be moved. Hand tremors generally occur in the hand that is used frequently, but it can occur in both. This condition has no known cause and treatment.
- Parkinson's disease, which is a chronic disease that interferes with brain function and coordination of body movements. Tremors in Parkinson's disease actually occur when the patient is still or when the muscles are not being used, and decrease when the patient moves.
- seizures.
- Dystonia.
- Low blood sugar levels.
- An overactive thyroid gland.
- Multiple sclerosis, namely disorders of the nervous system, brain, and spine, which have an impact on body movement.
- strokes.
- Peripheral neuropathy, namely damage to the peripheral nervous system.
- Brain tumor.
- Huntington's disease.
- Poisoning by certain substances, such as mercury, carbon monoxide, and manganese.
- Excess consumption of caffeine and alcohol.
- Side effects of taking certain drugs, such as antipsychotic drugs, asthma medications, amphetamines, and corticosteroids.
Although the shaking hands in Parkinson's disease have characteristics that can be distinguished from essential tremor, the symptoms of both diseases can worsen over time if not treated promptly.
In addition to the hands, people with essential tremor may experience tremors in other body parts, such as the eyelids, lips, head, arms, or vocal cords. This essential tremor can be genetic.
Diagnosis and Treatment Shaking Hands
Symptoms of shaking hands that are mild, or not caused by disease, usually get better on their own. This applies to shaking hands from stress, cold, fatigue, or caffeine and alcohol consumption.
Complaints of shaking hands need to be watched out for and immediately consulted a doctor if:
- It gets worse, even while resting.
- Occurs prolonged, severe, or has greatly interfered with daily activities.
- Accompanied by other symptoms, such as weakness, headache, abnormal tongue movement, muscle stiffness, or uncontrollable movements appear.
To confirm the diagnosis and look for the cause, the doctor will perform a physical examination accompanied by supports, such as blood and urine tests, CT scan, MRI, electromyography or EMG (muscle nerve examination), and EEG (brain electrical examination).
After the diagnosis of shaking hands is determined, the doctor will provide appropriate treatment according to the cause. Meanwhile, to relieve complaints of shaking or tremors in the hands, doctors can give drugs class beta-blockers propranolol, sedatives, anticonvulsants, or botox injections. If symptoms do not improve with treatment, your doctor may suggest surgery.