Hand Tremor
Alternate Names : Tremor - Arms or Hands
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What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
Your health care provider will obtain your medical history and will perform a physical examination, including a detailed neurologic examination.
Medical history questions documenting hand tremor may include the following:
- Type
- Is the tremor regular or irregular?
- Are the movements small (fine) or large (coarse)?
- Distribution
- Are both hands affected?
- Is it the same on both sides?
- Quality
- Does the tremor impair the ability to use the hands?
- Is it a rapid and rhythmic tremor?
- Aggravating factors
- Is it worse after emotional stress?
- Does excitement make it worse?
- Is it worse when you try to use your hand (action tremor)?
- Do specific postures (such as extending your arms horizontally) make the tremor worse? Which postures?
- Relieving factors
- Is the tremor better after you rest? After you sleep?
- Does drinking an alcoholic beverage make the tremor less?
- Does the medication L-dopa (levodopa) lessen the severity of the tremor?
- What other symptoms are present?
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:
Once a cause of the tremor has been determined, the appropriate treatment for the disease will be prescribed.
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