When are the hands shaking?
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The state when hands are shaking is familiar to many of us. Such trembling is not uncommon after a lot of stress, fright, long experiences or with a sudden release of adrenaline into the blood (for example, in extreme situations).
You can feel a shiver even when the body is relaxed: this may be due to age or some diseases.
Why are your hands shaking?
Hands can shake for many reasons:
- Depressive states, depressed mood, state of despair;
- taking certain medications, mostly affecting the central nervous system;
- alcoholism;
- abuse of strong tea or coffee;
- excessive physical exertion, overwork;
- supercooling, exposure to low temperatures;
- poisoning, intoxication of the body.
In fact, these reasons are the main, but not the only factors in the emergence of trembling in the hands. Particular attention requires trembling limbs, which is repeated and lasts for more than 2 weeks: this may be the result of some disease or disorder in the body. Be sure to visit a doctor, go through a series of additional examinations to find out the cause and provoking factors of the appearance of trembling in your hands.
If the reasons for shaking hands are physiological, then this state must pass by itself. If the trembling does not go away, or, moreover, increases, then this may indicate the presence of any pathological processes in the body.
Why are the young people's hands shaking?
If the elderly people can shake hands from the age processes in the body, in young people this can be due to many reasons. Most often this state develops in response to nervous system irritations: stressful situations associated with studies, relationships with classmates or the opposite sex.
An important role is played by the hormonal background. For example, in the transition years, when the level of hormones in the young body is constantly changing, depression can develop, mood swings, fatigue, irritability, which may well be accompanied by a tremor in the limbs.
Weak nervous system, large training loads, possible misunderstanding on the part of teachers, parents or the opposite sex, experiences about self-determination in life - these factors can be identified on the state of health and condition of the young organism.
At the teenager hands are shaking - what to do? To begin with, try to talk with him: maybe something bothers him, there are any fears or feelings, worries study or not getting along well with peers. Worse, if all these stressful situations the teenager tries to drown out cigarettes or liquor. Of course, he hardly admits this to you. However, your task is not to put pressure on a teenager, but to show him your love, feelings and readiness to help at any moment.
If from the psychological point of view with the teenager everything is all right, and the cause of trembling in the hands is still unknown, then, most likely, a specialist consultation will be required. Try to contact a local doctor who can write a referral to a neurologist, therapist or endocrinologist. Diseases, which are dealt with by physicians of these specialties, can reveal themselves precisely by the appearance of trembling in their hands. So do not waste time and be surveyed.
Why is the hand shaking in the elderly person?
Often the trembling in the hands of the elderly is perceived by others relatively adequately: what can you do, age ... Indeed, age-related changes in the body play an important role here. However, age - the reason is incomplete, because there is a specific factor that triggered a shiver in his hand. This can be a violation of cerebral circulation, heart disease and blood vessels. The most common factors we have identified in the following list:
- professional activity, when the hands had a large share of physical exertion, which, in the end, triggered increasing muscular overwork;
- long-term stresses, experiences that could affect the functioning of the autonomic nervous system or cerebral circulation;
- prolonged intoxication of the body, which can be caused by prolonged use of alcoholic beverages, smoking for many years, prolonged work in harmful production, living near busy roads or large industrial facilities;
- other diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, stroke or pathology of the endocrine system (hyperthyroidism, diabetes, etc.).
In any case, the true reason can be established only in the course of special examinations with a specialist. Independently to find out the reason of such status it is possible seldom.
Symptoms of trembling in the hands
It would seem, what are the symptoms of trembling in your hands? However, the tremor can also be different, and often by its nature you can determine the approximate cause of such a condition. Next, we will consider the most frequent signs of the most common pathologies, which are accompanied by tremor of the extremities.
- If your hands are trembling violently, then this can be a sign of intoxication of the body: a person is in a state of nervous paralytic shock. This is due to the fact that toxic substances have an effect on brain functions during intoxication, which immediately affects the coordination of movements. When intoxication is observed very small tremor in the limbs, and, sometimes shaking legs and hands at the same time. The patient feels a small vibration, often invisible to others. If a person is poisoned by drugs or chemicals, the tremor will be more vivid. When food poisoning, tremors are not noticeable. The condition can be accompanied by weakness, loss of orientation, dyspeptic disorders. Skin covers are often pale, hyperhidrosis is possible.
- If the hands and weakness of a person are shaking after 40 years, this can be a manifestation of an essential tremor - a pathology that passes by heredity. Such a tremor can be observed with the tension of the fingers on the hands, or while holding the arm extended forward or to the side. Shivering "by inheritance" can be accompanied by a tremor of the lower jaw, neck. In this case, there may be a vibration in the vocal cords - the voice seems to "tremble."
- If hands are shaking with Parkinson's disease, then most often it happens already at the initial stages of the disease. The tremor is a fairly large, exciting limb from the wrist to the fingertips. Characteristically: with Parkinson's disease, trembling most obviously starts to bother in a relaxed state. For example, often patients note that hands are shaking in sleep. At the same time, if you give your hands a job, the trembling is almost over. Tremor can be amplified by experiences: in such cases, it is of an obvious nature and is visible to the naked eye. Hands can shake unevenly: the right is more left, or vice versa. In addition to the limbs, sometimes shaking shoulders, lips, head.
- If your hands and legs and weakness are shaking, you can suspect the trembling of the cerebellar etiology when the painful changes of the cerebellum occur. As a rule, such a pathology can be a consequence of a head trauma or a chronic disease called multiple sclerosis. When the cerebellum is affected, there is a decrease in muscle tone, general weakness, apathy. If you ask the patient to close his eyes, then in this state, he can not touch a given point, for example, to the tip of the nose. The patient feels constant fatigue, especially towards evening. Trembling has a different intensity, but it passes in a relaxed state.
- If hands are shaking with VSD (vegetovascular dystonia) or other vascular diseases, as well as with Wilson-Konovalov disease, then the tremor is then large and rhythmic, with an oscillating amplitude of 10-20 mm. Tremor often occurs with motor activity and disappears in a relaxed state. However, it will not be easy to relax limbs with such tremors, and often an outsider may need help. In some cases, Wilson's disease can tremble not only the upper limbs, but also the entire body.
- If your hands are shaking with thyroid gland diseases, then most often we are talking about hyperthyroidism - an excessive function of the thyroid gland, when an excessive amount of hormones is produced. Trembling in this case low-amplitude, frequent, is eliminated quite difficult. At the same time, the function of other organs and systems may be impaired: the urinary system, the liver, and the digestive system. Often disturbed by "interruptions" in the heart, there is no stability of mood. If you ask the patient to stick his tongue out as much as possible, you can watch his trembling.
- When hands are shaking with diabetes, it means a sharp drop in blood glucose. Such a condition can be compared with the state of a healthy person when their hands are shaking with hunger. Shivering is not associated with motor activity, nor with a patient's calm state. Simultaneously with a tremor in the hands general weakness grows, the skin becomes covered with sweat. After a portion of carbohydrate food, the symptoms of tremor disappear.
- Sometimes the hands become numb and shaken after the bite of the encephalitis mite. Such a state can take place after visiting the park, forest belts, after a rest on the nature. Tremor after a tick bite does not develop immediately, it has a convulsive paroxysmal character. Simultaneously with a tremor, muscles can twitch and ache, limbs grow numb until paralytic complications occur. This situation requires urgent medical attention.
- If the hands are shaking with a neurosis, then such trembling is constant and does not stop on its own. Hands shake slightly, to obsessive, not letting go of either sleep or waking. There are other signs of neurosis - apathy, anorexia and sleep disorders, irritability and fatigue.
- If the hands are shaking after a stroke, then the tremor is usually small, unmixed, with separate muscle twitchings. In some cases, this is due to the return of muscle tone and an inadequate period of rehabilitation. However, the most common cause is the violation of the conducting brain pathways, when the cortex of the brain is lost from the muscle fibers. This function can be completely or partially restored with time if one passes a sufficient and qualified course of rehabilitation treatment.
Shaky hands as a sign of the disease can be considered if the trembling is repeated more than once a month, and is not associated with short-term physiological phenomena: fatigue, experience, long stay in an uncomfortable position, etc. Moreover, if the patient is undergoing treatment with what either drugs, then shivering can only be a side effect of some of them.
The left hand is shaking
The left arm can shake after frequent physical exertion on it, as well as with an incorrectly distributed load between the limbs or with a sudden heavy load on the left arm. In most people, the left arm is initially weaker than the right one, so trembling can occur after relatively little physical exertion, especially on an untrained hand.
Often, a shiver appears after carrying heavy loads in the left hand.
If we are not talking about physical activity, then the cause of tremor of the hand can be pathology in the spine (infringement of the nerve end from the left side). This condition can be accompanied by a feeling of numbness or "crawling crawling" in the limb, as well as pain in the back.
In the first case, if a shiver arises from physical exertion, it disappears on its own after a short rest and resting the limb. A light massage, relaxing warm bath or a contrast shower also helps.
Tremor in the hand as a result of problems with the back does not pass by itself. You should consult a doctor, preferably a vertebrologist or orthopedist, who will consider the possibility of eliminating nerve impairment.
The right hand is shaking
A state where only the right hand is shaking is not uncommon. Why is it so? The answer is simple: most people on the planet are right-handed people, who are accustomed to performing movements and any manual work predominantly with the right hand. And if the movements are permanent and monotonous, or the maximum permissible load is in hand for a certain amount of time, then the hand is overloaded and shaking may occur. Moreover, sometimes, due to professional activity, the right arm is so "accustomed" to regular exercise, that in a relaxed state, the muscle fibers continue to "demand" an extra load, which provokes the appearance of a tremor. Such a condition can not be considered a pathology, it is just an effect or cost of a profession.
However, in some cases the tremor in the right hand can still mean the disease. This happens when there is a circulatory disturbance in the right side of the brain, particularly in the post-stroke state (if the stroke happened on the right side). The fault can also be the pathology of the spine (again on the right side).
Constantly shaking hands: the tricks of the autonomic nervous system
The autonomic nervous system is part of the entire nervous system, which is responsible for many functions of the body, including for vital processes. The vegetative system controls those processes that a person can not consciously control - it is the nutrition of tissues, the work of internal organs, the contraction of smooth muscles, the process of releasing hormones, etc.
How does the autonomic nervous system affect the appearance of trembling in the hands? First, it is in her power to control the secretion of adrenaline, a hormone that is "to blame" for the fact that our hands are shaking with excitement, fear, in extreme situations. For example, it is rare for someone who does not shake hands during the first jump with a parachute, and the person can not control this process independently: the fault of the VNS and the adrenaline rush into the blood.
Approximately according to the same scheme, the vegetative nervous system acts when the hands are shaking after sex: a person experiences a rush of pleasure hormones, adrenaline, his heart beats faster, blood circulation is strengthened - hence the tremor in his hands. And this is by no means a pathology, just so the VNS reacts to the process of obtaining pleasure.
It is worth noting that the sensitivity of the VNS is different for all people, that's why some people shake their fingers at the slightest nervous irritation, while others can be very calm and do not give out their excitement.
When a person is in emergency, extreme conditions and he has a need to mobilize all available reserves in order to overcome the difficulties that have arisen, it is the NNS that is able to provide an opportunity to withstand any conditions. In the body, the available energy reserves are exempted, which allows to stimulate the person's physical capabilities. At the same time, the surface blood vessels narrow, the volume of circulating blood increases, to ensure the work of the muscles. Again, the work of the adrenal cortex, the synthesized adrenaline is activated - all this in the complex gives an explanation of why the hands are shaking after training, especially intense. Shivering after training, usually passes by itself, when the body can relax and rest.
By the way, an additional reason why hands shake after training, can be an excessive load on them. If the training was long and hard, the muscles of the hands "get used" to the tension. After such training they need time to bounce back and relax.
Nerves are shaking hands - this is also a result of the activity of the ANS. Thus, the body reacts to unpleasant emotions: slows down breathing, heart rate increases. In a dispute, gambling, respiration, on the contrary, becomes more frequent due to the release of adrenaline. At the same time, the need for oxygen increases, which further increases the tremor in the hands. Moreover, in some people the vegetative nervous system is so sensitive that, in addition to trembling in the hands, in response to unpleasant emotions, nausea, increased intestinal peristalsis, diarrhea and an acute feeling of hunger may appear.
The hands are shaking during the conversation - this is the result of subconscious excitement from the conversation with the interlocutor. A person may not be aware of his excitement. Nevertheless, the overly sensitive vegetative apparatus reacts with a tremor in the hands. In this case, as a rule, trembling is absent during communication with relatives or relatives. If the conversation takes place between people of strangers - a tremor may be present.
The work of the thermoregulation system in the body is also subject to vegetative control. Narrowing or widening of the vessels, which is controlled by the VNS, is able to regulate the temperature of the human body. It is for this reason, when a cold or infectious disease occurs with an increase in body temperature, often throws into the heat and shake hands.
The most sensitive vegetative nervous system is in certain periods of life or under certain conditions of a person:
- early childhood;
- hormonal changes (the period of puberty, pregnancy);
- long-term excitement, fear, depression, etc .;
- organic pathology of the nervous system (consequence of head injuries, epilepsy, circulatory disorders of the brain, etc.);
- disorders of metabolic and trophic processes in the body (usually in the elderly and senile age).
We will talk about some of these periods separately.
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The child's hands are shaking
If you find that your child is shaking hands, then, in the first place, it is necessary to exclude the most banal reasons for this state.
Maybe the baby just froze, it's cold, or shivering from the fever.
Perhaps the baby is hungry, and a shiver in his hand is a sign of a lack of glucose in the body.
In some cases, trembling in the limbs can mean muscle spasms associated with physical overwork, prolonged physical activity. Such spasms can be removed with the help of a special relaxing massage, using a minty ointment or a regular massage cream.
If the trembling in your hands is not related to the listed reasons, then, most likely, you will need a specialist consultation. First of all, it can be a pediatrician, a neuropathologist or a children's neurologist. It should be borne in mind that often a shiver can be a sign of a serious illness, so you should conduct a survey and see if everything is ok with the baby.
When does the newborn shake hands?
At the child from the moment of a birth there can be a twitching of separate muscles, including on arms or hand. It should be noted that the trembling of the handles and lower jaw of a baby up to 3 months of age is not always attributed to pathology, in contrast to the tremor of the head.
If the hands of the newborn are shaking, then most often this is a consequence of the incomplete maturity of the neuro-regulatory centers, which are responsible for the motor ability and control the amount of noradrenaline in the children's bloodstream when the first emotions are manifested.
The baby's nervous system, due to its immaturity, can be very sensitive, especially at certain periods of his life. This occurs at the stages of the formation of the nervous system: in the first month of life, as well as in the III, IX and XII months. In order to control the maturation process, it is recommended to visit the child neurologist in these periods of the child's life in addition.
If after 3 months the trembling does not disappear, then it is possible to suspect a violation in the nervous system of the baby: a malfunction could have occurred in the womb, or during labor. The reason could be:
- nervous stresses of the future mother, which affected the child;
- disruption of the endocrine system and mother and baby;
- oxygen deficiency of the fetus due to impaired placental function, polyhydramnios, infectious diseases during pregnancy, impaired fertility, improper placement of the umbilical cord, etc .;
- prematurity of the fetus.
Thus, the trembling of the handles of a newborn baby up to 3 months, although not considered a pathology, requires constant monitoring by the parents. In addition to observation, it is recommended that you visit a neurologist, hold a light massage and develop a gym. Later you can practice swimming in a bath or a special pool. And the main condition for further support of the child's stable nervous system is peace and peace in the family, love and attention of parents, not only to the baby, but to each other.
Hands are shaking in pregnant women
Often you can see how the hands are shaking in pregnant women. This is especially noticeable at the last stages of the gestation period. Many experts do not consider this a pathology and explain such a symptom by an electrolytic exchange disorder. This failure is usually associated with a deficiency in the body of a pregnant woman of certain substances, for example, magnesium, calcium and potassium. Nutritionists advise pregnant women with the appearance of tremors in the hands, as well as pain and numbness in the limbs, to undergo a blood test for the content of minerals. In addition, you should sharply limit the amount of salt in the diet and use a sufficient amount of liquid - at least 2 liters per day, mainly in the morning.
Another cause of trembling in the hands during pregnancy can be physiological changes in small vessels - capillaries. This condition is also not related to pathology, but it is recommended for your own safety to visit a neurologist and a vascular surgeon.
Trembling in the hands of pregnant women can sometimes be caused by neurological diseases that worried a woman and before pregnancy. In this situation, regular consultation of the attending physician is required.
There is another very common cause of hand tremor in pregnancy - these are diseases of the endocrine system, in particular, the thyroid gland. In order to identify or refute the presence of such pathology, it is necessary to conduct a series of examinations in the endocrinologist.
Diagnosis of tremors in the hands
As a rule, no specific shaking tests are carried out in the hands. Diagnostic procedures are usually aimed only at excluding certain diseases with a similar symptom. More often for such diagnostics address to the neuropathologist, the therapist, the endocrinologist. The doctor will check the functions of the patient's nervous system to identify a number of possible disorders:
- the work of the tendon reflex;
- the degree of muscle tone;
- sensitivity of tissues;
- work of the vestibular apparatus and motor coordination;
- gait stamina.
The study of blood and urine can help in the detection of a disease of the endocrine system (thyroid or pancreas).
Additionally, the physician can assign functional tests, which include the following tasks:
- bring a full glass of water to your lips;
- stand with arms outstretched forward;
- write a phrase (characteristic of handwriting);
- draw a spiral line.
Based on these examinations, the doctor can diagnose, or send the patient for additional diagnosis and consultation of specialized specialists (electromyography, electroencephalography, tomography, neurosurgeon and genetics consultations).
What should I do if my hands are shaking?
There is also a mass of household reasons why hands are shaking. Often, these reasons are rarely noticed, and do not give them the proper value. Basically, it's bad habits, wrong way of life and so on. What are these reasons, and can they be influenced?
- Shaking hands with a hangover - the usual, it would seem, situation. Why is this happening? The reason for the effect of ethyl alcohol on brain functions, namely - on gray matter together with the front and back roots, which are responsible for the reflex reactions of the body. In this case, the inhibitory function is violated, which leads to trembling of the limbs and a breakdown in the tone of the musculature. With prolonged alcohol abuse, hyperkinetic conditions can also develop - high-amplitude uncontrolled movements. If your hands are shaking after sleep, this is a clear sign of a hangover syndrome. Indeed, alcoholics often shake hands in the mornings. And regardless of the number drunk the day before - whether it's a bottle of vodka or a glass of beer. At the same time, there may be a shiver in the voice, as well as in the whole body - this indicates a widespread intoxication of the body. What to do: stop drinking alcohol, sleep more, talk to the doctor about detoxification.
- Sometimes hands shake after smoking, especially in smokers with experience. Why? Penetrating into the lungs, nicotine enters the bloodstream, and then into the structures of the brain already after 8 seconds after the "tightening". It negatively affects all the functions of the nervous system: the vessels of the brain narrow, there is a hypoxia of the nerve tissues, the synaptic transmission of nerve impulses deteriorates considerably. Particularly noticeable shaking hands after smoking in people with already existing diseases of the nervous system, after the traumas suffered (concussion, concussion), as well as in children and adolescents, with a fragile nervous and circulatory system. Often, the smokers are dizzy and shaking hands at the same time, which is also a consequence of the violation of nerve conduction with a simultaneous narrowing of the vessels of the brain and periphery. What if this happens? The answer is clear: quit smoking.
- After the coffee hands are shaking - why? As you know, coffee - a fairly strong stimulant, increasing blood pressure and activating cardiac activity. If a person who drinks a coffee, prone to increased blood pressure, or drinks a significant amount of a strong drink for a short time, then his pulse becomes more frequent, blood circulation increases, which causes tremors in the hands. Moreover, if coffee is drunk too much, then it can be noted that a person appears dizzy and shaking hands. This is already a result of fluctuations in blood pressure due to a drink. What if this happens? Regularly check the blood pressure: perhaps you better give up coffee, or drink it is not strong and in limited quantities.
- Shaking hands and headache: the first thing that comes to mind is low blood pressure. To confirm this conclusion, you should measure BP and compare its indicators with the pressure that you are accustomed to. If the pressure has dropped significantly, or this decrease was sharp, then to the listed symptoms, dizziness may also increase. If the hands are shaking and the pressure is normal - look for another reason - for example, endocrine or cardiac.
- Often you can hear: "Shaking hands when I eat." Can this happen? Indeed, it can. This condition is a sign of a lack of glucose in the blood. Causes - prolonged fasting, both intentional and dependent on circumstances, as well as diabetes mellitus, when the glucose-insulin chain is broken. Among other reasons for the sharp drop in glucose level, one can call a significant physical load or use of high-carbohydrate foods the day before. With a sharp decrease in the amount of sugar in the blood, there is tremor in the hands, weakness, possibly dizziness and sweating of the palms. After eating and normalizing the glucose level, such symptoms tend to disappear.
Treating trembling in the hands
How to treat shaking hands, directly depends on the cause that triggered this state. Most often, the treatment of tremors in the hands can consist of the following appointments:
- medicines based on levodopa and MAO inhibitors in Parkinsonism;
- drugs that eliminate tremors (ß-adrenoblockers) in case of a physiological condition or hereditary essential tremor;
- elimination of cravings for alcohol and the appointment of B vitamins;
- drugs that stabilize the production of thyroid hormones (thyreostatic drugs);
- medicines that improve cerebral circulation (nootropic drugs, antiaggregants);
- medicines for the treatment of multiple sclerosis;
- detoxification therapy.
The most common tablets from shaking hands:
- ß-adrenoblockers (propranolol, atenolol, bisoprolol, metoprolol, etc.);
- anticonvulsants (hexamidine, trimethine, phenobarbital, phenacon, etc.);
- tranquilizers (phenazepam, atarax, seduxen, valium, lorafen, etc.);
- sedatives (valerian, motherwort, novopassit, sedatives, valocordin, corvalol, etc.).
A good effect is provided by relaxing massage, acupuncture sessions, aromatherapy, botox therapy, physiotherapy, physiotherapy.
In severe cases, deep brain stimulation is used.
Prevention of tremors in the hands
What can prevent the tremor in the hands:
- refusal or restriction of coffee and strong tea, as well as other stimulating drinks (power engineers);
- refusal from bad habits - alcohol, smoking, etc .;
- high-grade rest, development of stress-resistance, training in relaxation techniques;
- light physical exercises - jogging, swimming, bicycle, ball games, etc .;
- a normal sleep, no less than 7-8 hours in a row, in a well-ventilated room.
A good prevention of tremor can be yoga, respiratory gymnastics. It is also necessary to establish nutrition so that the diet is sufficiently present potassium, magnesium, calcium, B vitamins - essential elements for the normal operation of the nervous system.
Periodically, you should monitor blood pressure, go through a prophylactic examination of the thyroid gland, donate blood and urine for sugar.
Do not exacerbate the stress: for example, if you have a fear of public speaking, and you can not avoid them - drink a sedative beforehand (you can before and after the performance). After the event, have a good rest, and even better - get enough sleep. If you are unreasonably nervous - take your time, play with the children, walk in the park or in the woods. An excellent tool for stress relief - picking berries and mushrooms, medicinal plants.
Forecast the trembling in the hands
Physiological trembling, which is observed in the disorder of metabolic processes or intoxication of the body, is usually temporary and, as a rule, passes after the treatment of the underlying disease.
If the trembling is associated with Parkinson's disease, then its dynamics may worsen as the disease progresses.
Prolonged and severe course of pathological tremor with time can lead to deterioration of motor coordination, which negatively affects the quality of human life. In this case, the patient experiences serious difficulties with social and labor adaptation.
If your hands are shaking, this does not always mean a disease. Perhaps a person is just too emotional, either in a state of depression, or simply drank a cup of strong coffee. However, in any case, the repeated trembling in the hands requires constant observation, which will allow to distinguish the norm from the pathology in time.