My Weekly’s favourite GP Dr Sarah Jarvis from TV and radio writes for you
DR SARAH JARVIS IS UNABLE TO OFFER INDIVIDUAL ADVICE OR SEE INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS. ALL HEALTH CONTENT IN MY WEEKLY IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY. PLEASE SEEK HELP FROM
Have you ever felt shaky – maybe when you’ve been scared or had a sudden shock? I know I have. Tremor – which happens when pairs of muscles in your body contract in turn – is a common consequence of fear or anxiety.
You also probably recognise the expression “shaking with excitement”. Both fear and excitement lead to the release of a hormone called adrenaline. Adrenaline puts your nervous system into overdrive, increasing the blood flow to your limbs. It can also make you feel breathless or lightheaded.
As a doctor I know that having a fever due to infection can also make you feel trembly – you may feel hot and cold, or freezing one minute and boiling hot the next. This is because your body sets its thermostat higher to fight off the infection, and shivering helps warm you up. That’s why you tremble when you’re cold, too. But it’s still a bit scary.
Everyone has a minor tremor – if you stretch your hands out in front of you and look hard, you’ll notice it.
That kind of tremor is completely normal. So too are muscles that shake a bit when you exert them – for instance, when you try to hold your leg up in the same position for a long period during an exercise class.
Tremor isn’t a condition, it’s a symptom, which may be a completely normal reaction for your body or may be a symptom of another condition. Different causes of tremor also occur in different situations – for instance, tremor due to anxiety may be worse when you’re moving or pointing your finger. The tremor of Parkinson’s disease, by contrast, tends to be worse at rest.
“Essential tremor” is the most common cause of persistent trembling. It isn’t related to any life-threatening condition, and it won’t lead to more serious complications.
However, it can have a huge effect on your ability to function day-to-day. Alcohol can make it temporarily better, so there’s a temptation to resort to alcohol – but this only causes problems further down the line.
Essential tremor usually starts in your 40s or later. Unlike Parkinson’s disease, the tremor is usually worse when you’re moving. It tends to start in your hands or arms, but often spreads to ot
