Tremor Trouble

Is your tremor a sign of Parkinson’s disease?

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Your hands are shaky. Over the years, they’ve twitched every now and then whenever you wrote a note or used a tool or utensil. Now that you’re older, those hand tremors are occurring a little more frequently, and you’re concerned you might have something worrisome, like Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Statistically speaking, you’re more likely to be exhibiting signs of the most common type of movement disorder, benign familial essential tremor (ET), which is at least eight times more common than PD. Whatever the cause, if your tremors begin to affect your quality of life, it’s time to find answers.

“When should you be concerned about tremors?” asks neurologist Tarannum Khan, MD, a Cleveland Clinic Florida movement disorders specialist. With one episode of tremor, you should not be concerned at all. But, if it’s more persistent and progressive over time, you should see a doctor.

Identifying Essential Tremor

ET often progresses slowly, and while for many patients it remains mild, for others it is life-altering.

Several factors can help you and your doctor determine if your shakiness is from ET or if it’s a Parkinsonian tremor. For instance, if you have a family history of tremor, you’re more likely to have ET: More than half of patients with ET have a family history of the disorder, compared with less than 10% of those with Parkinsonian tremors.