Essential tremor
Essential tremor is a nervous system condition that causes rhythmic shaking, most often in your hands, when you are trying to move or hold them.
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Essential tremor is a common movement disorder that occurs when the brain sends incorrect signals to your muscles. It primarily affects the hands, but it can also cause shaking in your head, voice, or legs. Unlike some other conditions, the shaking usually happens when you are actively using your muscles—like when you are holding a cup, writing, or reaching for an object.
While it might look like other shaking conditions, it is not the same as Parkinson's disease. We do not know exactly why the brain signals misfire, but we know it involves the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain that controls coordination and balance. It is a chronic condition, meaning it stays with you, but it often progresses very slowly over many years.
Common Symptoms
- Shaking in your hands that happens during movement or when holding a position.
- A 'yes-yes' or 'no-no' shaking motion of the head.
- A shaky or quivering quality to your voice.
- Shaking that often worsens with stress, fatigue, caffeine, or certain temperatures.
- Shaking that usually lessens when your muscles are completely at rest.