Despite how common the movement disorder is, essential tremor or ET, as it is often referred to, can have a considerable impact on quality of life. After all, not only does the neurological condition cause uncontrollable shaking of the hands, voice, and head, but as it worsens, the symptoms become much more severe to the point where it can affect our daily routines.
The good news is that there are treatment options. In this article, we will discuss everything that you need to know about essential tremor, including treatments that can help provide symptom relief.
What are the common causes of Essential Tremors?
Essential tremors may not be uncommon, but the disorder isn’t completely understood yet. However, it is widely accepted in the medical community that abnormalities on the electrical activities within the thalamus area of the brain (the part that both controls as well as coordinates muscle activity) is the primary cause of this neurological condition.
Many also believe that the disorder is inherited. And if you have a parent that possesses the genetic mutation for the condition, there’s at least a fifty per cent chance that you’ll develop essential tremors as well.
What are the possible treatments for Essential Tremors?
There are several treatments that can potentially alleviate essential tremors, depending on the severity of the condition. Listed below are just a few of these treatments:
Medications
• Tranquilizer drugs. Benzodiazepine medication isn’t only useful for those with anxiety and tension problems, but also essential tremors too. While tranquilizers may be effective, it should always be used with caution because of its addicting nature.
• Beta-blockers. While commonly utilized to treat those with high blood pressure, beta-blockers are also widely used to relieve the existence of essential tremors too. It is well worth noting that these medications can come with side-effects, such as heart problems, light-headedness, and fatigue.
• Seizure medications. For those who don’t respond well to beta-blockers, antiepileptic drugs are an alternative. Drowsiness, as well as nausea, are common side-effects from taking these types of medications, but they tend to disappear after a short period.
Physical therapy
For those whose symptoms are mild, doctors will generally recommend physical therapy to cope with the disorder. From the use of heavy utensils and glasses to wrist weights, therapists can provide you with the means to adapt to the condition through exercises that improve and enhance your control as well as coordination.
Surgery
If the effects of the essential tremors are too severe and no longer respond to both medication and therapy, surgery is often the only course of action left to pursue. The most common surgical procedure to alleviate the disorder is called deep brain stimulation. And with the use of a neuro-stimulator device, it helps interrupt any abnormal signals from the thalamus area that is causing the effects of the condition.
A noninvasive alternative, a focused ultrasound like Neuravive, utilizes sound energy to treat the condition precisely through MR imaging. Unlike deep brain stimulation, there’s no need for any incisions. And as such, it reduces the risks of the surgery even more. Essential tremors are serious conditions that should never be taken lightly.
So if you have a parent who suffers from the affliction or if symptoms start to present, make sure that you consult with your doctor or a medical professional immediately.
