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Hand tremors – Causes and risk factors

Hand tremors – Causes and risk factors

Tremors are involuntary muscle contractions that cause body parts, such as the hands or legs, to shake. Hand tremors, for instance, may be triggered by multiple factors, including physical, cognitive, and genetic factors. While hand tremors can be a minor issue for some, they can greatly impact daily life, especially for those whose tremors are triggered by neurological conditions. To avoid complications, individuals should seek medical help to understand the causes of hand tremors and appropriate management strategies.

Causes of hand tremors

Tremors are often involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions, and each individual may have a slight tremor when moving or holding a particular posture. These can be so minute that it is nearly impossible to see or notice them. However, when hand tremors become more noticeable, knowing their causes is important for an accurate prognosis.

Neurological conditions

Many neurological conditions can cause hand tremors due to problems in the parts of the brain that control motor function.

  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
    Those with MS can develop hand tremors because the condition affects areas of the central nervous system that control movement.
  • Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
    Those with Parkinson’s disease notice symptoms like hand tremors because of altered dopamine activity in the brain. Tremors are usually a primary symptom of this condition.
  • Stroke
    Following a stroke, individuals may exhibit symptoms of damage to the basal ganglia. This can trigger resting tremors, while damage to the cerebellum can lead to intention tremors. These are rhythmic, involuntary muscle contractions that occur with purposeful movement.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
    Injuries to the brain can cause significant damage to specific areas responsible for movement and motor control, triggering hand tremors.

Enhanced physiologic tremors

Enhanced physiologic tremor (EPT) is one of the most commonly observed postural tremors. These are involuntary, rhythmic shaking caused by holding a body part (usually the limbs) in a specific position against gravity. It often affects both hands and fingers. 

A few common triggers of EPT that can worsen hand tremors include stress, anxiety, fatigue, lack of sleep, excessive caffeine intake, vigorous exercise, and an overactive thyroid. Enhanced physiological tremor may require medical attention to restore fine muscle coordination and enable engagement in an activity.

Hyperthyroidism

Individuals can develop this condition when the thyroid gland produces excess thyroxine and triiodothyronine, two thyroid hormones. If symptoms show, they can affect the whole body and even body functions. Excess thyroid hormone can increase metabolism, consequently triggering tremors.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Hand tremors and PTSD are linked mainly through stress. Studies show that those experiencing essential tremors, including shaky hands, are more likely to have PTSD. Chronic stress from PTSD can worsen or trigger tremors by affecting the nervous system. However, it is important to note that there is no evidence that PTSD directly causes hand tremors. Instead, both conditions may share stress-related issues. For instance, emotional trauma could contribute to hand shaking or tremors without being the sole cause.

Other risk factors that can cause tremors

Altered genes

Familial or inherited tremors are an autosomal dominant disorder. This means that an altered gene from just one parent can pass on the condition (a 50% chance), which can eventually trigger symptoms like hand shaking.

Age

Hand tremors become more common with aging, especially in those 40 and older.

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