Tremors
What is tremor?
Tremor is an unintentional, somewhat rhythmic, muscle movement involving
to-and-fro movements (oscillations) of one or more parts of the body. It is the
most common of all involuntary movements and can affect the hands, arms, head,
face, vocal cords, trunk, and legs. Most tremors occur in the hands. In some
people, tremor is a symptom of another neurological disorder. The most common
form of tremor, however, occurs in otherwise healthy people. Although tremor is
not life-threatening, it can be embarrassing to some people and make it harder
to perform daily tasks.
What causes tremor?
Tremor is generally caused by problems in parts of the brain that control
muscles throughout the body or in particular areas, such as the
hands. Neurological disorders or conditions that can produce tremor include
multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative
diseases that damage or destroy parts of the brainstem or the cerebellum. Other
causes include the use of some drugs (such as amphetamines, corticosteroids, and
drugs used for certain psychiatric disorders),
alcohol abuse or withdrawal,
mercury poisoning, overactive thyroid, or liver failure. Some forms of tremor
are inherited and run in families, while others have no known cause.
Next: What are the characteristics of tremors? »
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Tremors
Huntington Disease »
Introduction to Huntington's disease
In 1872, the American physician George Huntington wrote about an illness that he called "an heirloom from generations away back in the dim past." He was not the first to describe the disorder, which has been traced back to the Middle Ages at least. One of its earliest names was chorea, which, as in
"choreography," is the Greek word for dance. The term chorea describes how
people affected with the disorder writhe, twist, and turn in a constant,
uncontrollable dance-like motion. Later, other descriptive names evolved.
"Hereditary chorea" emphasizes how the disease is passed from parent to child.
"Chronic progressive chorea" stresses how symptoms of the disease worsen over time. Today, physicians commonly use the simple term Huntington's disease (HD) to describe this highly complex disorder that causes untold suffering for thousands of families.
More than 15,000 Americans have HD. At least 150,000 others have ...
Read the Huntington Disease article »
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