Essential tremor is often hereditary, but sometimes theres no known cause.
This condition isnt life-threatening, and most people with essential tremor can live normal lives.
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What Are the Symptoms of Essential Tremor?
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The only symptom of essential tremor is shaking tremors.
The tremors occur at a rhythmic, rapid rate and may be more prominent with action than at rest.
Anxiety or fatigue can worsen the shaking.
Symptoms of essential tremor include:
What Causes Essential Tremor?
There is not an identified and consistent cause of essential tremor.
Experts agree that there is likely a genetic component, and it sometimes runs in families.
However, there is no identified single gene that is known to cause essential tremor.
Who Commonly Gets Essential Tremor?
Generally, essential tremor begins during adulthood, and it can be more common with advancing age.
Can Essential Tremor Increase the Risk for Other Conditions?
Essential tremor doesnt cause other medical conditions and it doesnt affect your health.
Many people who have essential tremor worry about the possibility ofParkinsons diseaseor another movement disorder.
Essential tremor is diagnosed based on a medical history and physical examination.
A physical examination is a major part of the diagnostic process.
Diagnostic procedures you might have include:
How Is Essential Tremor Treated?
Usually, essential tremors are treated with prescription medication or lifestyle measures.
Some people choose to take medication, and others opt for lifestyle measures.
Generally, lifestyle measures do not completely control essential tremor, but may help to a moderate degree.
This jot down of injection paralyzes the muscle and can potentially prevent tremors in the affected muscles.
Surgery
Certain surgical procedures can help treat essential tremor.
Examples include:
These procedures are used to subdue involuntary movements.
Whats the Outlook for People With Essential Tremor?
It’s hard to predict the outcome of essential tremor.
Living with essential tremor and another neurological disorder would compound the physical disability and distress.
Can Essential Tremor Be Prevented or Cured?
There is no definitive cure for essential tremor, but it can be treated medically or surgically.
No known strategies can help prevent essential tremor from developing.
Lifestyle measures may help minimize the symptoms for some people.
Medications can be used to help treat essential tremor.
The most common are propranolol and primidone, which can be taken every day to control the condition.
For some people who do not improve with medication, surgical intervention may be helpful.
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