DIET AND FITNESS:
Why Are My Hands Shaking? --Top
10 Causes and Remedies
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May 31, 2010, Updated March 28, 2011
By Louise Carr, Contributing Columnist
Shaky hands can be awkward and embarrassing and in
extreme cases can interfere with everyday life. Our hands
shake all the time as the muscle fibers contract and relax but
the movement is usually tiny. The natural condition becomes
a problem when your shaking hands become noticeable or
affect the way you write or hold a cup. Many people panic
when they notice involuntary shaking or trembling, fearing
Parkinson’s disease or something equally serious. What are
the common causes of shaking hands? Why do your hands
shake and are there any natural remedies for shaking hands?
Shaky hands or tremor are common and usually have an
everyday cause. A 2005 Austrian study of movement
disorders found 28 percent of the adults studied (who were
aged between 50 and 89) had a movement disorder. The
study found tremor was the main form of movement
disorder, affecting 14.5 percent of the study. Only 7 percent
of those with a movement disorder suffered from
Parkinson's. Here are the Top 10 causes of shaking hands
and the remedies recommended, based on medical studies:
1. Essential Tremor is the Most Common Cause of Shaky
Hands
Essential tremor (the word "essential" in this case means a
condition that exists on its own) is one of the most common
reasons for shakiness. The muscle fibers, instead of
contracting randomly, synchronize themselves resulting in a
more pronounced movement. Essential tremor (ET) affects
the hands but sometimes also the head, voice and other parts
of the body. The condition worsens when you do something
with your hands or try to hold them still in one position.
Estimates of the number of people in the US suffering from
essential tremor vary although the International Essential
Tremor Foundation claims nearly 10 million Americans suffer
from the condition. It is unusual in young people and tends
to run in families. The condition does not usually lead to more
serious complications. However, a 2007 study entitled ‘Risk
of incident dementia in essential tremor’ found that essential
tremor that develops after the age of 65 may be associated
with an increased risk of developing dementia. A 2003 study
from Turkey of 2,253 people over the age of 40 found that
essential tremor affected 4 percent of those studied and was
a higher risk in those aged above 60.
2. Shaking Hands Can Be Caused by Parkinson's Disease
Though essential tremor is the most frequently observed
form of movement disorder, many people shake because of
Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson's is diagnosed in around two percent of people
over the age of 65. However, as in the case of the actor
Michael J. Fox, it can also affect the very young.
There are differences between the kind of shaking
experienced by those with essential tremor and those with
Parkinson's. Patients with essential tremor shake when they
move their hand, while Parkinson’s sufferers shake when
they stay still. Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the
nervous system characterized by tremor and shaking,
weakness and facial paralysis. It occurs when the nerve cells
in the brain that make dopamine are destroyed. Without
dopamine, the nerve cells cannot send messages leading to
the loss of muscle function.
3. Shakiness Could Be Triggered By Your Genes
Research from the Mayo Clinic discovered a single gene that
increases the risk of developing essential tremor shakiness in
some patients, and Parkinson’s disease in others. Mutations
in this gene are responsible for five percent of patients with
ET and also five percent of patients with Parkinson’s.
“Although essential tremor and Parkinson's disease are
considered to be different diseases, researchers have been
arguing for a long time about whether essential tremor is a
milder, preliminary form of Parkinson's disease, and they
have been looking for the genetic connection between these
disorders," study authors said. The result does not mean that
people who have essential tremor have an increased risk of
developing Parkinson's disease, however.
4. Too Much Caffeine Can Make Your Hands Shake
A little coffee can perk you up but consume too much and
you risk shaky hands. Caffeine in coffee, tea and soft drinks
stimulates the brain and releases adrenaline.
The Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Research Foundation says
around 75 to 150mg of caffeine enhances activity in the brain
and makes you feel more awake. But this amount of caffeine
can also cause shaking and interfere with your coordination.
The effects of caffeine on shaking hands can be particularly
pronounced when combined with low blood sugar.
Now, for some good news. Drinking coffee may make you
shake but it also can cut your risk for developing Parkinson's
by 50%. A 2001 study from the Harvard School of Public
Health (HSPH) found moderate consumption of caffeine
reduces the risk of Parkinson’s disease. The study looked at
more than 47,000 men and 88,000 women who completed
lifestyle and dietary questionnaires. Men drinking four to five
cups of coffee a day cut their risk of Parkinson’s disease
nearly in half. Women who drank between one and three
cups of coffee each day also cut their risk nearly in half but
the benefit was apparently lost at higher levels. (read more
about the health benefits of coffee).
5. Alcohol Can Cause Shaky Hands
Consuming too much alcohol can affect the steadiness of
your hands due to its negative effect on the central nervous
system. Shaky hands and feelings of nervousness in the
mornings can also be a sign of alcoholism.
Drinking three units of alcohol a day can double the risk of
developing essential tremor, research published in the
Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry found.
The study assessed alcohol consumption and tremor
symptoms in around 3,300 people aged over 65. The
participants were part of a population survey of major age-
related conditions in central Spain (Neurological Disorders in
Central Spain study, or NEDICES). Those who suffered from
ET were significantly more likely to have been drinking
regularly and for longer. Each additional year of consuming
three units a day increased the risk of ET by 23 percent.
6. Hypoglycemia Can Cause Shaking Hands
Continue reading page 1 page 2
You're just getting started. Learn more about the relationship
between your diet and your risk for other diseases and
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Salt? /Ideal Breakfast for Diabetics /
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Eyes-Lingering Health Dangers from Volcanic Ash / Vitamin
B3 (Niacin)-A Powerful Ally Against Cholesterol / Swollen
Ankles -Causes and Cures//How Much Is Too Much Salt?
/Sugar-The Disease Connection / Are Diet Sodas Bad for
Your Health? // Ideal Breakfast for Arthritis /Healing Foods
Links / Foods That Shrink Your Waist / Foods That Lower
Cholesterol/ VLDL-The Other Cholesterol/ Foods That
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