HERSHEY, Pa. — About a decade ago, Joan Riggs, a 64-year-old from Lemoyne, started to have shaky hands. At first, it was an annoyance. However, as the tremors worsened, they kept her from doing the activities she enjoyed most.
She stopped working as a nurse. She couldn’t enjoy her favorite hobbies, journaling and cross-stitch, because they require steady hands. Even eating and drinking became difficult.
“I was always spilling food and making a mess on the floor, and just getting a fork or spoon to my mouth was so frustrating,” she said. “I started eating mostly finger foods and not really sitting down to an actual dinner of any kind.”
Riggs was struggling with essential tremor, a neurological movement disorder that affects about 1.1 million adults in the U.S., according to research published in the journal Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements.
What is essential tremor?
Essential tremor is a brain condition that causes uncontrollable, rhythmic trembling. Shaky hands are a common symptom.
“Hand tremors often emerge when people try to do regular activities: eating, drinking, shaving or applying lipstick,” said Pratik Talati, a functional neurosurgeon and director of focused ultrasound for Penn State Health Neurosurgery. "These movements can be very disruptive to people’s lives.”
Symptoms often start between ages 36 and 40, according to research published in Clinical Parkinsonism & Related Disorders.
Some people notice that their tremors subside for a short time when they drink alcohol. That’s because alcohol slows movement by impairing nervous system activity, Talati said. However, he warns that drinking is not a treatment strategy — in the long run, excess alcohol can harm brain function and make movement problems worse.
Is essential tremor related to Parkinson’s Disease?
While both conditions cause tremors, they appear and progress differently.
“Essential tremor patients often have no tremor at rest, but it appears when they start doing things,” Talati said.
In Parkinson’s, the opposite occurs. “Parkinson’s patients often find that their tremor comes out when their hand is resting on their lap or right by their side, but it goes away when they do activities such as eating or drinking,” Talati said.
Parkinson’s disease worsens over time as brain cells that support movement die, he added. While the cause of essential tremor is unknown, it doesn’t progress the same way.
How is essential tremor diagnosed?
To diagnose essential tremor, a doctor will ask about the patient's symptoms, health history and family history. More than half of people with essential tremor have a family history of the condition, called familial tremor.
The doctor might also check muscle strength, reflexes, coordination and balance. They may watch the patient perform simple tasks, such as writing on paper or pouring water into a glass.