Causes: Parkinsons Vs Essential Tremor
The cause is largely unknown for both Parkinsons and essential tremor. However, there are theories about what may cause these conditions.
In regards to essential tremor, John Hopkins Medicine notes that there is a theory that the condition may be caused by miscommunication between the cerebellum and other parts of the brain. There is also believed to be a genetic predisposition for developing essential tremor. You may be 50% more likely to develop essential tremor if your parent has the condition.
It is also important to note that certain factors can also cause other types of tremors. For example, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, certain medications, thyroid overactivity, and toxins like lead and mercury can produce tremors that might be confused with this condition.
In regards to what causes Parkinsons disease, the direct cause as to why specific individuals develop Parkinsons is unknown. However, what happens within the body that causes Parkinsons symptoms to manifest, is the gradual loss of brain cells that are responsible for producing dopamine. When this happens, it can interfere with normal body movement, leading to patients to exhibit the common symptoms of Parkinsons.
When Its Not Parkinsons: Non
Everyone has some amount of tremor. Physiologic tremors are common, barely noticeable amounts of shakiness that worsen when people are stressed, anxious, or have had too much caffeine. As long as the tremors are not significant and do not affect your day-to-day activities, they may be completely normal.
Even tremors that are not normal are not always caused by Parkinsons. They can be caused by a range of other conditions, which together are known as movement disorders.
Environmental Factors And Exposures
Exposure to pesticides and a history of head injury have each been linked with PD, but the risks are modest. Never having smoked cigarettes, and never drinking caffeinated beverages, are also associated with small increases in risk of developing PD.
Low concentrations of urate in the blood is associated with an increased risk of PD.
Drug-induced parkinsonism
Different medical drugs have been implicated in cases of parkinsonism. Drug-induced parkinsonism is normally reversible by stopping the offending agent. Drugs include:
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Next Steps: Getting Care For Parkinsons And Essential Tremor
If you believe you have Parkinsons disease or essential tremor, dont hesitate to seek professional care. Your doctor can help you diagnose your condition, find the right treatment plan for you, and manage your symptoms so you can enjoy the best quality of life possible. While suffering from a condition like essential tremor or Parkinsons can be frightening, you dont have to face it on your own.
Stay in touch!
Diagnosing Parkinsons Vs Essential Tremor
The difference between essential tremor and Parkinsons can be so slight that it can be difficult for doctors to diagnose these conditions correctly. In fact, they are often mistaken for one another, which can be frustrating for physicians and patients alike. Specialty physicians that diagnose and treat these conditions are Movement Disorder Neurologists.
While there are no official tests for either condition, there are several diagnostic techniques that physicians employ to attempt properly diagnose essential tremor vs. Parkinsons, including:
- Physical examination: During a physical examination, a physician evaluates the patients motor skills to help in their determination of whether they suffer from essential tremor vs. Parkinsons.
- DaTscan: During a DaTscan, a radioactive tracer is injected, which makes its way into the brain, where it attaches to dopamine transporters. Special imaging scans are then conducted to see whether the dopamine system is healthy. If it is irregular, it may help diagnose your condition as Parkinsons.
- Handwriting sample evaluation: A doctor may be able to differentiate Parkinsons vs. essential tremor using a handwriting sample because those with Parkinsons typically exhibit exceptionally small handwriting, whereas those with ET exhibit larger, shaky handwriting.
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Confusion With Essential Tremor
The tremor of Parkinsons disease is often confused with the tremor of a condition called Essential Tremor, or Benign Familial Tremor . Katherine Hepburn had Essential Tremor, and was originally misdiagnosed with Parkinsons. Ronald Reagan also had Essential Tremor. Both had a head tremor and a vocal tremor. In Essential Tremor, the hands are most commonly involved, followed by the head and then the voice. Essential Tremor can also cause the jaw to tremor, and it may be difficult to figure out if a jaw tremor is from Essential Tremor or Parkinsons. Unfortunately, some people may have both disorders. Some authorities believe that there is, in fact, an increased association between the two conditions, so that more people with Parkinsons disease have Essential Tremor than would be expected by chance alone, but this has not been established.
Getting Treatment: Essential Tremor Vs Parkinsons Disease
There is currently no cure for essential tremor or Parkinsons. However, that does not mean you have no control over your condition. As doctors learn more about these conditions, developments in treatment and disease management continue to help patients preserve their quality of life as much as possible.
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What Is Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons disease is a progressive condition that causes trouble with movement. Its caused by the death of cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra. This part of your brain produces the neurotransmitter dopamine.
In some cases, specific genetic mutations are linked to the development of Parkinsons. But more often, it seems to appear randomly. Its thought that environmental factors such as exposure to pesticides, herbicides, or air pollution may contribute, but more evidence is needed to understand the potential link.
According to the National Institute on Aging, Parkinsons most commonly develops in people over the age of 60 and affects men about 50 percent more often than women.
Signs & Symptoms: Is It Essential Tremor Or Parkinsons
In order to start managing your condition and receive the treatment you need, you should be aware of the most common signs and symptoms as well as the key differences between essential tremor andParkinsons. After all, the first step in getting care as early on as possible is self-awareness that you might be suffering from one of these conditions.
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Treatments For Parkinsons Disease
While currently available Parkinsons treatments cannot slow or halt the disease, they can help manage symptoms. According to the American Parkinson Disease Association, here are some of the most common treatment options:
There are also lifestyle changes that you can make to help with your Parkinsons symptoms, including:
- Practicing strength training to help with movement
- Stretching to help with rigidity
- Getting massages to relieve muscle stiffness and stress
- Eating a healthier diet to help with lethargy
While these are the most commonly recommended treatment options for Parkinsons disease right now, there is a lot of effort and financial support toward finding new solutions, including clinical trials of medications.
When To See Your Doctor
Its easy to assume these problems have other causes, and they often do. But any of these non-motor symptoms can have a big impact on your overall quality of life.
Having one or more doesnt necessarily mean you have Parkinsons disease or that youll eventually develop it. But its worth consulting with your doctor.
Tell your doctor if youre concerned about having Parkinsons disease. Although theres no cure, there are medications to help control symptoms.
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What To Expect From Diagnosis
Theres no single test for Parkinsons, so it can take some time to reach the diagnosis.
Your doctor will likely refer you to a neurologist, who will review your symptoms and perform a physical examination. Tell your doctor about all the medications you take. Some of these symptoms could be side effects of those drugs.
Your doctor will also want to check for other conditions that cause similar symptoms.
Diagnostic testing will be based on your symptoms and neurologic workup and may include:
- blood tests
Bjhwupslc: Rev: Solid: 16
If you notice your hands are shaky when pouring a cup of coffee, holding a bridge hand or combing your hair, you may leap to the conclusion you are in the early stages of Parkinson disease. But actually, essential tremor is the most common form of abnormal trembling primarily of the hands.
Essential tremor is a nerve disorder in which tremors occur without an identifiable cause. The tremor resembles an exaggerated shaking and occurs when a person is using his or her hands but does not occur while the hands are at rest. Parkinsons tremors are just the opposite noticeable shaking when at rest but no shaking when the hands are engaged.
Some degree of tremor during movements is normal for everyone. Stress, fatigue, anger, fear, caffeine and cigarette smoking may temporarily worsen normal tremor to the point that it becomes visible to the naked eye.
Chronic essential tremor can occur at any age but is most common in people older than 65. It is a relatively benign condition, affecting movement or voice quality, but with no other effects. It involves a rhythmic, moderately rapid tremor of voluntary muscles.Over time, essential tremor may involve hands, arms, head, voice box, eyelids, or other muscles. An essential tremor rarely affects the legs or feet. It may start in one body part but can progress to include other parts.
For more information or to make an appointment with a Washington University Neurology movement disorder specialist, please call 314-362-6908.
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Essential Tremor Vs Parkinsons Disease
Essential tremor and Parkinsons disease are both adult-onset tremor disorders that can be characterized by shaking that affects daily life. If you have one of these conditions, you may find it difficult to hold onto items, struggle to write normally, and notice your hands shaking uncontrollably. However, beyond that, there are many key differences.
If you believe you may suffer from one of these conditions, this guide can help you better understand the signs that you may have Parkinsons disease or essential tremor, how each is diagnosed, and what the treatment process entails. If you have questions about a certain aspect of these conditions, use the links below to navigate to its specific section:
Defining The Condition: Parkinsons Vs Essential Tremor
Parkinsons Disease: According to the Parkinsons Foundation, Parkinsons disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominantly dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra. Parkinsons itself is not a fatal disease, however, it can have serious complications that can be.
- At what age does Parkinsons usually manifest? Typically Parkinsons typically manifests in individuals 50 years or older. However, Young Onset Parkinsons , affects 2% to 10% of individuals in the U.S. with Parkinsons.
- What is the prevalence of Parkinsons disease? According to Nih.gov, approximately 1.8% of adults 65 and older suffer from Parkinsons disease.
Essential Tremor: As defined by John Hopkins Medicine, essential tremor disorder is a neurological condition that causes your hands, head, trunk, voice, or legs to shake rhythmically. Generally, these tremors are worse when moving than when at rest. However, tremors can be severe enough to interfere with regular daily activities such as eating, speaking, and even using the restroom independently. Essential tremor is considered benign, or non-life-threatening.
- At what age does essential tremor usually manifest? Essential tremor typically affects individuals over the age of 65, however, it can develop at any age.
- What is the prevalence of essential tremor? According to Nih.gov, approximately 4.67% of adults 65 and older suffer from essential tremor.
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Parkinsons Tremors: Causes Types And Treatments
Tremors are one of the major symptoms of Parkinsons disease for many people living with the condition. They can affect either side of the body, impacting arms and hands as well as the head and torso. Tremors can be frustrating to live with, especially when accompanied by other symptoms of PD like slowness, freezing, and loss of balance.
If you have PD, its important to understand the different types of tremors and treatments, as well as how tremors caused by Parkinsons are different from tremors caused by other conditions.
What To Take Aways From These 5 Ways To Reduce Tremors For Parkinsons Disease
That concludes our tips for reducing tremors. Take the time to try each of these tips. We hope one, or all of these can make a significant change in your mobility, safety, function, and quality of life. If none of these seem to help dont worry, we are all different and unique. Seek out a medical professional to find that one trick to combat these tremors!! If you are looking for a great physical therapists to help you fight against Parkinsons, call Impact PT today!
About Dr. Eric Hefferon
Dr. Eric Hefferon received his advanced doctorate degree in physical therapy from the innovative A.T. Still University. He has been practicing in the west valley for 6 years and has made strong ties to local gyms and medical practitioners. Dr. Hefferon started Impact Physical Therapy due to his passion for an individualized healthcare approach. He knew by creating a clinic that was out of network he could help give patients the results they deserve. His treatment style attracts patients from all over the valley and even out of state. People will travel to seek Dr. Hefferons solutions!
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Dementia With Lewy Bodies
- Dementia with Lewy bodies is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder in which abnormal deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein build up in multiple areas of the brain.
- DLB first causes progressive problems with memory and fluctuations in thinking, as well as hallucinations. These symptoms are joined later in the course of the disease by parkinsonism with slowness, stiffness and other symptoms similar to PD.
- While the same abnormal protein is found in the brains of those with PD, when individuals with PD develop memory and thinking problems it tends to occur later in the course of their disease.
- There are no specific treatments for DLB. Treatment focuses on symptoms.
Action Versus Resting Tremors
Almost all tremors are either considered action tremors or resting tremors. Action tremors are tremors that happen the most when you contract a muscle or try to hold a certain position.
Resting tremors, on the other hand, happen when a body part is at rest. Resting tremors are frequently related to PD, but action tremors are more likely to suggest other conditions.
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Treatments For Essential Tremor
According to Harvard.edu, there are several actions that can be taken to help manage your essential tremor and minimize how they impact your daily life. First, lets cover treatment options:
As each patient is different, you and your doctor will need to decide what the best course of action is for you. You must weigh the pros and cons of each treatment option based on your lifestyle and how you think theyll impact your quality of life.
Ways To Reduce Tremors For Parkinsons Disease
5 Ways to Reduce Tremors
Tremors are a common symptom associated with Parkinsons disease, a chronic progressive neurological disorder. Medical management may or may not help with reducing tremors so it is imperative to help patients find a specific way to combat tremors. Therefore, we are going to share with you tips that weve seen improve quality of life with patients, large groups of individuals, and our community. How great would it be for you to feel more confident in a crowd, eating in public, and attend family/grandchild/sporting events? With these 5 ways to reduce tremors for Parkinsons disease you can feel confident when out and about living your life to the fullest.
Each one of these tips can be individualized to you, because everyone has different symptoms. Maybe all, or just one with help you feel better, move better, and look better.
Tip 1: Flicks putting maximum range of motion and opening through the hands, acting as if you are throwing away your tremors with tons of effort. How to do this: close your hands and squeeze tightly, followed by throwing your hands out sideways and opening them maximally. This can be performed with just the hands, or with total arm involvement.
Tip 2: Punching with hands squeezed tightly and in a fist, throw a few punches in front of you giving them your best effort. How to do this: close your hands and squeeze tightly, raise your arms and straighten your elbows as you punch in front of you. Repeat with both arms.
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