By Dr. Rajkumar , General Physician
Shaky hands or hand tremors refer to a condition which is caused by tremors (a disorder of the nerves which causes the entire body or a part to shake uncontrollably). This condition becomes worse as you grow old and can hinder your daily life routines. Generally, this condition is not fatal but in some cases, this might be a sign of some serious underlying nerve-related medical conditions. It is recommended to consult a doctor if you experience these hand tremors on a regular basis or even quite frequently for that matter.
Causes-
- Essential tremors (most common mobility disorder) can cause shaky hands as this disorder causes the uncontrollable shaking of a certain body part due to an anomaly in the functioning of the cerebellum (portion of the brain that regulates and controls muscular activity). Generally, the shaking occurs when you attempt to move a muscle, whereas the shaking reduces or subsides as soon as the movement stops.
- Parkinson’s disease (disorder of the nervous system that impacts mobility and also induces tremors) might also cause shaky hands, especially when your muscles are at rest and the shaking stops when there is a rapid movement of the muscles.
- Hand tremors can also occur due to stress, excessive consumption of alcohol or as a side effect of certain medications.
- Low blood sugar levels, regular instances of fits or seizures and a hyperactive thyroid gland can all contribute to this condition.
Treatments-
There are still no cures available as long as it’s the essential tremors which cause this particular condition. But a prescribed dosage of Propranolol, Xanax, Primidone, Neurontin and Atenolol can regulate some of the symptoms. In some cases, the doctors might prescribe Botox injections or deep brain stimulation surgery to cure hand tremors. Also, in your daily life, you can clutch on to heavy objects with relatively firm grips in order to control the tremors.
