It’s normal to have shaky hands every once in a while. If you have tremors regularly or they’re bad enough to disrupt your life, however, it may mean that things are more complicated than you think. Tremors can be caused by several neurological conditions or movement disorders but one likely culprit is Parkinson’s disease.
Common Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can start out as being so mild you don’t even know they’re there. As the condition progresses, though, they will be harder to ignore. Most times, the symptoms affect one side of the body before the other. Persons who are dealing with Parkinson’s may realize that the issues on one side get far worse while the other side’s symptoms are mild.
With that said, these are a few of the symptoms that usually mean you could be dealing with Parkinson’s.
A persistent tremor - Parkinson’s disease has a particular type of tremor. It can start in the hand or fingers then affect the entire limb. Sometimes, there is a pill-rolling tremor which looks like you’re rolling something between your thumb and forefinger. The shaking will also happen while your hand is at rest.
Your movements are slowed - As the condition progresses, you may notice that your walk becomes more of a shuffle and your steps are shorter.
Stiffening muscles - The condition can cause the muscles throughout your body to become rigid. This symptom may be painful and tends to limit your range of motion.
Poor posture and balance - It’s typical for your posture to become stopped and to have trouble maintaining your balance.
Having trouble with involuntary movements - Movements such as blinking or swinging the arms while walking may occur with less frequency.
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Speech problems - With Parkinson’s, you may develop a slur or speak more softly. It’s also possible to lose the inflections that usually come with your speech.
Having problems with writing - As might be expected, changes in your muscles and shaky hands can make it difficult to write.
Symptoms won’t be the same for everyone. You may even find that one issue worsens much faster than others.
Why You Might Be At Risk
While health professionals haven’t fully determined what causes Parkinson’s disease, there are a handful of factors that can increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
These factors include genetic mutation, environmental triggers such as pesticides, Lewy bodies in the brain cells, having a close relative with the disease, being an older adult, and being male.
Of course, meeting any or all of these criteria will not guarantee that you’ll develop Parkinson’s. It is, however, enough reason to be cautious about any changes in your health.
Diagnosis And Treatment Of The Disease
Generally, there are no tests that are specific to Parkinson’s disease. A neurologist will be able to offer a diagnosis based on a physical evaluation, an assessment of your symptoms, and tests that can include imaging, scans, as well as certain blood tests. Once diagnosed, your doctor will prescribe medications that impact the dopamine levels in your brain and can ease the symptoms.
Some persons may also qualify for a surgical procedure known as deep brain stimulation. The procedure involves stimulating certain parts of the brain with electrical pulses. Though there are benefits to the surgery, there are also risks that include infection, strokes, or hemorrhaging. The procedure is often reserved for persons who have advanced Parkinson’s disease and are not responding well to other treatments.
Additionally, your doctor is likely to recommend lifestyle changes that will help you to manage your illness. You may need to develop a regular exercise routine or work with a physical therapist to address your balance issues. Persons who develop problems with speech may also need to work with a speech therapist.
Tremors in your hands aren’t the only symptom of Parkinson’s disease but according to health officials, up to a quarter of persons who have the condition will experience shaking hands. While that symptom isn’t always linked to Parkinson’s, it can’t hurt to get to the bottom of what’s troubling you.
More Information
The Parkinson’s Foundation has more on living well with Parkinson’s Disease.
