Shaking, twitching or tremor is mostly an unconscious trembling or oscillating motor movement of parts of the body. Trembling hands, in particular, are often a clear marker of the symptom.
What is tremor?
Trembling hands, in particular, are often a clear marker of the symptom. As noted, tremor is mostly an unconscious or involuntary motor action in which the body as a whole or individual body parts tremble or vibrate slightly or jitter. The trembling itself has its origin mostly in the opposite action of muscle groups (antagonists). Known for particularly strong tremors are often hands, jaw, head, feet and voice. Tremors can come in a variety of forms. For example, it can be shaky or jittery, as in severe freezing, or more oscillatory and rhythmic, as in Parkinson’s disease. The trembling can occur at rest or in motion. One can further differentiate the following forms of trembling:
1. trembling during movement of a body part
2. trembling while resting or holding a body part
3. trembling when fixating on a target
4. trembling while holding an object
5. tremor during specific motor actions, such as playing music
Causes
Shivering when cold or freezing is usually harmless unless frostbite occurs as a result. Here, freezing is even a protective mechanism to provide the body with more heat through muscle contraction. Nevertheless, shivering can also be a symptom of a disease. Typical representatives of this are Parkinson’s disease, hyperthyroidism, epilepsy, stroke and multiple sclerosis. But also the excessive consumption of alcohol, nicotine, drugs, coffee, tea and various medications can trigger tremors. Likewise, psychological conditions such as anxiety disorder or panic attacks are also a possible cause. A rare cause of tremor is hereditary predispositions, but this has not yet been researched in detail.
Diseases with this symptom
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Anxiety disorder
- Alcoholism
- Frostbite
- Stroke
- Dumping syndrome
- Wilson’s disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Epilepsy
- Dystonia
- Graves’ disease
Complications
Shivering is a common reaction of the body to cold. In most cases, the shivering always disappears when the body is able to warm up again. If the cold is not treated directly, hypothermia may occur if the shivering is very prolonged. However, this is not serious if the patient is treated immediately with heat. The shivering, however, can also occur in conjunction with muscle diseases and is often a result of alcohol abuse. In such cases, a doctor must be consulted to examine the symptom and treat it if necessary. Frequent tremors also often point to hyperthyroidism. This can be treated with the help of medication. Parkinson’s disease is also a cause of tremor, but unfortunately cannot be treated directly. Here, different forms of the disease are distinguished, which differ in the frequency of tremors. If there is still pain in the wrist while trembling, this may indicate a pinched nerve, here a doctor must be called urgently. It can also occur due to stress or nervousness and is normal in such situations. After the situation, the tremor disappears again by itself.
When should you go to the doctor?
Normally, trembling of individual extremities or the entire body is a defensive reaction of the body. Excessive cold causes individual muscle regions to shiver so that the temperature is maintained. However, trembling of certain body regions can also result from unaccustomed stress. However, the shivering should disappear on its own after a few hours. If this is not the case, an appropriate doctor should be consulted as soon as possible. Only in this way can possibly serious underlying diseases be avoided or detected and treated at an early stage. If the trembling of individual body parts disappears after a few hours, it is very likely to be a harmless muscle ache. The trembling of individual body parts at short intervals may occur due to a serious underlying disease.Thus, a visit to the doctor should not wait long, because only early treatment can avoid serious complications. For this reason, the following applies: Affected persons who suffer from tremors in the muscles after unaccustomed physical activity do not need to see a doctor at all. After a few hours, the tremor should disappear on its own. However, the situation is different if the tremor occurs for no apparent reason. In such a case, a visit to the doctor is absolutely inevitable. Only a medical examination can detect any underlying diseases early enough.
Treatment and therapy
Normally, no doctor is consulted in case of tremor. Nevertheless, in the context of another disease, this symptom can be detected by a medical professional and a diagnosis in this regard included. Depending on the cause, treatment of tremor is then possible, in addition to the underlying disease. Possible therapeutic measures include taking medication, such as beta blockers or botulinum toxin. In addition, motor techniques and forms of training have been used successfully against tremor in the past. Tremor in the context of epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease cannot be cured so far. Only symptom relief is provided by physicians.
Outlook and prognosis
In most cases, tremor is not a serious symptom that must necessarily be treated by a doctor. If the tremor occurs due to cold, the symptom will disappear when the patient warms up. However, hypothermia may occur in this case if the affected person is exposed to cold temperatures for a long period of time. If the patient regularly consumes alcohol or other drugs, the tremor may also result from this. In this case, withdrawal helps to limit and treat the symptom. If the tremor occurs suddenly, it may be due to another underlying disease. In this case, the further course of the disease depends on the exact cause. In the case of Parkinson’s disease, only a very limited treatment is possible, in which the tremor cannot be completely eliminated. Often trembling also occurs in stressful situations and nervousness, in which case it is a common symptom. In this case, psychotherapeutic treatment can also be initiated to reduce the complaint. Shivering may also occur with colds or flu, but it disappears along with the underlying illness.
Prevention
To avoid or prevent tremors should try to lead a stress-free and relaxed life. In addition, regular sports and exercise in nature and fresh air helps. A healthy diet should also be aimed for. Too much alcohol, smoking and drug use should be avoided. Reducing coffee can be helpful as well.
What you can do yourself
Tremors can have various causes and should therefore always be clarified by a doctor. Depending on the cause, various home remedies and measures can alleviate the symptoms. For nervous tremors, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques (yoga, physiotherapy, massages, etc.) provide relief. However, stimulating drinks with caffeine should be avoided. Herbal teas (such as with lemon balm, fennel or chamomile), juice spritzers or buttermilk are better. A warm bath relaxes and quickly dissolves the tremor. Suitable natural remedies include chamomile, valerian, hops or lavender. Taken in the form of tablets, tea or drops, these remedies reduce tremors and ensure an overall better general condition. Tremors in the hands can be reduced by cooling hand cuffs and avoiding alcohol, nicotine and coffee. Often, tremors are also caused by exhaustion, which can be alleviated by relaxation and bed rest. If the symptoms are based on psychological stress, this must be dealt with in order to achieve a long-term improvement. Patients with a previous illness should always have their tremor clarified with the doctor treating them in order to avoid serious complications.
