Health / Medical Topics |
Tremor
Definition 1
The shaking movement of the whole body or just a certain part of it, often caused by problems of the neurons responsible for muscle action. (NCI Thesaurus)
Definition 2
A disorder characterized by the uncontrolled shaking movement of the whole body or individual parts. (NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)
More information
Tremors are unintentional trembling or shaking movements in one or more parts of your body. Most tremors occur in the hands. You can also have arm, head, face, vocal cord, trunk, and leg tremors. Tremors are most common in middle-aged and older people, but anyone can have them.
The cause of tremors is a problem in the parts of the brain that control muscles in the body or in specific parts of the body, such as the hands. They commonly occur in otherwise healthy people. They may also be caused by problems such as
• Parkinson's disease
• Dystonia
• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury
• Alcohol abuse and withdrawal
• Certain medicines
Some forms are inherited and run in families. Others have no known cause.
There is no cure for most tremors. Treatment to relieve them depends on their cause. In many cases, medicines and sometimes surgical procedures can reduce or stop tremors and improve muscle control. Tremors are not life threatening. However, they can be embarrassing and make it hard to perform daily tasks. (NIH: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)