Tremor (essential)

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Essential tremor is shaking or trembling of part of your body, which you canâ€™t control and that lasts for at least a few seconds. It is most common in the hands, the feet, the head, the jaw and the tongue, but it can occur in any part of your body.

We all experience a very fine tremor all the time we are awake as our body goes about its daily functions. This will be the slight tremor you see when you put out your hands for example. It is known as physiological tremor and is normal.

From time to time, this everyday level of tremor can increase so that it becomes more noticeable. Occasional noticeable tremor is common in people of all ages, and very common in older people, and does not necessarily mean that you have any sort of medical condition. It can be caused by tiredness, stress, anxiety, or anger. A raised level of adrenalin in your body, which can happen when you become excited or angry, can often cause a noticeable tremor.

Essential tremor is where the normal trembling of your muscles is regularly exaggerated so that it becomes frequently noticeable. The tremor may be so exaggerated that it becomes difficult for you to do normal activities. Essential tremor is made worse by the same factors that exaggerate normal tremor, such as when you are stressed, anxious, or angry, or if you do strenuous activity, drink caffeine or take some prescribed medicine.

Essential tremor is most likely to affect your arms and hands, but it can affect your face and upper body, and sometimes your voice. It will generally get worse when you try to do simple tasks such as drinking a glass of water, tying your shoelaces, or writing. Essential tremor is usually not present when you are resting or moving.

Essential tremor affects about 1 in 250 people and affects men and women equally. It can affect people of any age, but it gets more common with age and is most likely to start after you reach 45. Nearly 5% of the elderly will develop essential tremor. If essential tremor occurs in more than one member of a family, it is sometimes called familial tremor.