What is body tremors? Why is my body shaking?

Body tremor is a type of nervous disorder that occurs at different ages. Various reasons such as stress, use of certain drugs, excessive consumption of caffeine, alcohol, stroke, severe head injury, Parkinson's, etc. contribute to its occurrence. In this disease, the legs, hands, head and other parts of the body may experience involuntary tremors, which are often more severe in the hand. Don't worry! There are various treatment methods such as drug therapy, exercise, giving up certain foods, etc. to treat body tremors that will help you recover. Sometimes, this condition occurs as a result of incorrect lifestyle, such as excessive fatigue and consumption of incorrect food, which can be easily treated. In this article, we provide you with useful information about the causes of body tremors, its types, effective treatment methods, and ways to prevent this disease. Causes of body tremors There are various causes of tremors in the body, and each person may suffer from one of them. On the other hand, each of the following reasons causes a different type of vibration. Keep in mind that you are not going to have 100% of the following cases. But in any case, the cause of body tremors should be investigated. The causes of body tremors are: - Taking certain medications - Presence of brain tumor - Parkinson's - Alcohol consumption and withdrawal - MS disease - Stroke - Traumatic brain injuries Among the other common causes that cause shaking of the body, we can mention excessive fatigue, anxiety, Alzheimer's, old age, and improper sleep, each of which affects the occurrence of this problem in some way. Types of body tremors There are different types of body tremors, each of which has its own reasons and causes different symptoms. The types of body tremors based on their specific patterns are: #### Orthostatic tremor (Orthostatic Tremor) Orthostatic tremor is a rare type of tremor that often appears in the legs. People who suffer from this tremor lose their balance while walking or sitting and may even stand. It requires high expertise and accuracy to diagnose it and it is determined by touching the thigh and leg muscles. #### Parkinsonian Tremor Parkinson's tremors are caused by Parkinson's disease, where a person often feels tremors in their legs, hands, lips, and even chin when they are resting. The intensity of Parkinson's body tremors increases with increasing stress and discomfort and often occurs on one side of the body, which is gradually felt on both sides of the body. #### Physiological Tremor Physiological tremors often appear in the fingers, which are caused by low blood sugar, increased stress and anxiety, excessive caffeine consumption, and insufficient sleep. This type of tremor is minor and can be treated without medication. #### Functional Tremor Functional tremor, which may be caused by a neuropathic disorder, occurs suddenly. If the person pays attention to it, the intensity of the body movement will increase, and if the person does not pay attention to it and is distracted, its intensity will decrease. #### Cerebellar Tremor Cerebellar tremor occurs as a result of trauma to the cerebellum, stroke, hereditary diseases, and brain tumors, and its severity can be seen when trying to perform precise movements such as drawing a straight line. Its duration is long and it occurs slowly. #### Dystonic Tremor This tremor occurs in people with dystonia disorder, in which the muscles contract involuntarily. Muscle tremors are observed in the neck and upper limbs. A person can reduce the intensity of the tremor by touching the involved muscles. #### Essential Tremor This tremor is one of the most common types of tremors and is usually seen in the hands and arms during activities such as writing. It has an unknown cause; But it may be due to minor damage to the cerebellum and in many cases it is hereditary. Body vibration detection To diagnose body tremors, visit a neurologist to perform the necessary examinations and review your medical history. The steps to diagnose this type of complication are as follows: - Neurological examination: at this stage, muscle strength, body balance, speech, brain damage and similar cases are examined. - Examination of the type of tremor: the doctor checks whether the tremor occurs at rest or during activity. It also pays attention to whether the tremor is on one side of the body or on both sides to make a proper diagnosis. - Sampling: If necessary, urine and blood sampling is prescribed. - Imaging: brain imaging will be prescribed to diagnose the injury. - Electromyography: It is done to measure involuntary muscle activity and muscle response to nerve stimulation, which can identify muscle or nerve problems. The above items are prescribed for the patient based on the severity of the tremor so that the most suitable treatment is considered for the person and the disease is cured. ### Treatment of body tremors Tremors are often controlled with medications such as beta-blockers and anticonvulsants. In severe cases, surgeries such as magnetic brain stimulation and deep brain stimulation or Botox injections may improve tremors. Lifestyle changes such as reducing caffeine and managing stress are also effective. Also, physiotherapy and occupational therapy can help improve the quality of life of people with tremors. Always consult your doctor to get the best diagnosis and treatment. ### Tremor in certain neurological diseases Disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), stroke, and traumatic brain injury are among the most common causes of tremors. Also, degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's that damage certain nerve cells in the brain can cause tremors. Our brain has parts that are responsible for controlling precise and coordinated movements. When these parts are disrupted due to disease or injury, nerve messages are not transmitted properly and muscles contract involuntarily, which leads to body tremors. For example, in Parkinson's disease, damage to nerve cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra reduces the production of dopamine, an important neurotransmitter. A decrease in dopamine leads to impaired movement control and muscle tremors. ### Prevention and post-treatment care of body tremors There are several methods of prevention and aftercare for body tremors, which we have mentioned below. It is enough to implement these tips well. - Reduce caffeine consumption - Withdrawal from alcohol - Increasing the use of healthy foods such as vegetables - Reducing anxiety and increasing relaxation - Sleep pattern adjustment - Quit smoking - Taking medicines on time - Increasing physical activity and exercise per week The above items will help you avoid involuntary body movements. If you have recently treated this condition, you can speed up and improve the treatment process by using the mentioned tips. ### Summary Body tremors often occur in the elderly; However, in case of suffering from various diseases such as stroke, head injury, depression and following wrong ways of life such as smoking, alcohol and unhealthy food, young people will also be exposed to it. Fortunately, muscle tremors can be prevented by using exercise, proper nutrition and adding healthy habits to life. People who are going through their treatment period can control their body shaking well by using the points mentioned about post-treatment care. In order to timely diagnose and treat your body tremors, you can refer to Dr. Majid Kihani Fard as one of the best neurologists and entrust the treatment to him with full confidence so that you can return to the normal process of life.