Essential tremor is a medical situation that has no permanent cure. However, specific treatments and care equipment can provide significant relief to the symptoms of tremors and help improve the patients’ overall quality of life. The treatment modalities include medicines, certain lifestyle changes, and a comprehensive plan to reduce the tremors.

Joon Faii Ong London explains essential tremor

Essential tremor is abbreviated as ET, which is primarily a movement disorder that is recognized by uncontrollable tremors or shaking at different parts of the part, mostly starting from hands. As Joon Faii Ong London points out, the most affected areas by essential tremors are arms, hands, larynx, head, chin, tongue, and many other organs. In some cases, the entire lower body may also get affected.

Major symptoms

The major symptoms of essential tremor, which is visibly noticeable, are:

• Uncontrollable shaking occurs for a short period of time.
• The shaky voice may last for a few seconds and then slowly become permanent.
• Nodding of the head.
• Uncontrollable shakes during times of emotional stress.
• Worsening tremors during purposeful movement.
• Tremors that subside with rest.
• Issues with balance in some rare cases.

However, all the tremors and shaking of body parts may not be essential tremors. Sometimes, these may result from other underlying medical conditions or due to different lifestyle factors. You can see the difference in such cases in the timing of the tremor happening. It is very important to notice whether the tremors tend to occur at rest, with any specific posture, or during certain movements. It is also possible that certain medications cause resting tremors. There are other medical conditions also causing tremors as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, stroke, etc. the tremors that change with the movement or posture may occur while the blood sugar levels go low or as withdrawal symptoms of alcohol or drugs. There are also conditions like thyroid problems and sclerosis causing the same type of symptoms.

Diagnosing essential tremors

A thorough evaluation is very important in determining the exact condition and identifying the factors that exacerbate or relieve the tremors. If you witness symptoms similar to essential tremor, you should immediately seek medical care by consulting an experienced neurologist. During the evaluation, the physician may ask about your medical history, vitals, overall health conditions, medications you are on, the impact of any surgeries or other procedures, etc.

The doctor will check which part of the body is most affected with tremors, when it happens, and if there is evidence of any features which indicate movement disorders other than essential tremors. Diagnostic procedures also include CT scans, MRI, etc., to rule out the possibility of other possible causes of tremor.

Surgery is considered for those who are having disabling tremors, which cannot be controlled adequately with drugs. There are various treatment modalities, including drug therapy, physiotherapy, surgery, etc., to treat tremors. The known surgical methods for essential tremors are focus ultrasound and MR guidance, deep brain stimulation, stereotactic thalamotomy, etc.

Before deciding on any treatment modality, all the pros, and cons of the same needed to be discussed with Joon Faii Ong London. Some may be poor candidates for surgical treatments, and so detailed discussion of the prognosis and potential treatment method should be discussed and consented to by the patient.