Tremors

A tremor is an uncontrollable movement in any part of your body. They can occur at any time and are due to a problem in the part of your brain that controls muscle movements. It is usually harmless but sometimes signals a more serious neurological problem (that is, a problem related to the brain). Other factors that may cause tremors include:

• Side effect of drugs

• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal

• Parkinson’s disease

• Mercury poisoning

• Overactive thyroid

• Liver failure

• Muscle fatigue

• Consuming too much caffeine

• Stress

• Ageing

• Low blood sugar levels

Tremors are a common occurrence that usually affect the arms, hands, legs, voice and face. Some forms of tremor are inherited and may run in families, while others have no known cause.

There are two main types of tremors - resting tremors and action tremors.

Resting tremors occur when you are sitting or lying still, but when you begin to move around, the tremor goes away on its own. These types of tremors often affect only the hands or fingers.

Action tremors, on the other hand, occur during movement of the affected body part. Action tremors are further divided into:

• Intention tremor: An intention tremor occurs during targeted movement, such as touching your finger to your nose.

• Postural tremor: A postural tremor occurs when holding a position against gravity, such as holding your arm or leg outstretched.

• Task-specific tremor: Task-specific tremors occur during a specific activity, such as writing.

• Kinetic tremor: Kinetic tremors occur during movement of a body part, such as moving your wrist up and down.

• Isometric tremor: Isometric tremors occur during the voluntary contraction of a muscle without other movements of the muscle.

When to seek expert advice

If you or a loved one is facing similar symptoms such as displaying involuntary sounds and/or movements, it is recommended that you consult with your doctor immediately. You can obtain additional information and expert medical advice from the Section of Neurology​ at The Aga Khan University Hospital.​