Tremor Symptoms: Causes

What causes tremor symptoms?

The types of tremors and tremor symptoms differ and depend on the underlying disease, disorder or condition.

• Essential tremor is the most common of the more than 20 types of tremor. The exact cause of essential tremor is not known, but a genetic component is involved in many cases. This means that essential tremor can be inherited from your parents. Essential tremor is usually amplified by extreme emotion, stress, physical exhaustion, and low blood sugar.

• Parkinsonian tremor is caused by changes in the brain that lead to abnormal movements. People with Parkinson’s disease also experience rigidity of the arms, legs, and trunk and eventually develop bradykinesia, which is a slowness of movement that includes sudden freezing of muscle movement. They also have problems with balance and coordination. The exact cause of Parkinson’s disease is not known, but research suggests that both genetic and environmental factors play a role.

• Cerebellar tremor is caused by brain damage from a stroke, tumor, or degenerative disease like multiple sclerosis. Chronic alcoholism can also cause cerebellar tremor. Cerebellar tremor is most pronounced in the hands during a particular action, such as reaching out for something or touching the tip of your nose. Cerebellar tremor may also be calledintentiontremor.

Tremor symptoms can also result from drug or alcohol use, low blood sugar, medication side effects, mental health disorders, metabolic conditions, genetic disorders, and other abnormal processes. Tremor symptoms with peripheral neuropathy can occur as a complication of diabetes. In some cases, you may not be able to determine the cause of your tremor symptoms.

Potential causes of tremor symptoms

Tremor symptoms may arise from a variety of diseases, disorders and conditions including:

• Alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal

• Brain damage from a stroke or tumor

• Essential tremor

• Extreme emotion, anxiety, or stress

• Hyperthyroidism

• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)

• Movement disorder (dystonia)

• Multiple sclerosis

• Nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy)

• Parkinson’s disease

• Physical exhaustion

• Psychological disorder

Medications that potentially cause tremor symptoms

Medications and drug withdrawals that can produce tremor symptoms include:

• Amiodarone (used to treat ventricular arrythmia)

• Antidepressants

• Anti-seizure medication

• Benzodiazepine withdrawal

• Bronchodilators

• Lithium

• Pseudoephedrine

• Theophylline

Questions asked for diagnosing the cause of tremor symptoms

To diagnose your underlying condition, your licensed health care practitioner will most likely ask you questions related to your symptoms including:

• How long have you had tremors?

• Do you have a family history of tremor?

• What medications are you taking (including nonprescription drugs and supplements)?

• What makes your tremor symptoms better or worse?

• Have you ever had a head injury?

What are the potential complications of tremor symptoms?

Most tremor symptoms are not due to a serious or life-threatening condition. However, the embarrassment associated with a tremor can be debilitating. And because tremor symptoms can be caused by a serious condition, failure to seek treatment can result in complications. It is important to visit your health care provider when you experience tremors without an obvious cause like short-term low blood sugar. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, following the treatment plan outlined by your doctor can lower your risk of potential complications including:

• Difficulty performing daily tasks

• Embarrassment

• Impaired balance and coordination

• Withdrawal or depression