Essential tremor - what is it? Pathology of the nervous system has a hereditary nature. The disorder is associated with a mutation of certain genes. Doctors usually detect signs of disease in the elderly. In our publication, we will consider the symptoms, causes and treatment of essential tremor.
Characteristic symptoms
Before talking about the causes and treatment of essential tremor, I would like to note the symptoms that indicate the development of the disease. What changes are observed during the formation of pathology? Essential tremor is trembling of the upper extremities of moderate amplitude. The movements are arbitrary. The local muscles are rhythmically contracting, regardless of the volitional efforts of a person.
Manifestations of the disease make it difficult to perform gestures, during which it is necessary to use fine motor skills of the fingers. The patient has difficulty during the manipulation of small objects, tying shoelaces and buttoning buttons. It becomes difficult to use a ballpoint pen to write on paper. Hand shake is manifested when holding cutlery, a toothbrush.
About the reasons
Essential tremor is a functional failure of the nervous system, which most often makes itself felt during stressful situations and emotional outbursts. Arbitrary twitching of the limbs is also activated after hypothermia.
Researchers at the moment have not been able to accurately determine what the essence of the mechanism of triggering pathological changes in the functioning of the nervous system during the development of the disease is. According to the assumptions, the negative processes are due to the mutation of the genes of the FET1, ETM1 and ETM2 groups.
Most scientists agree that the main reason for the formation of essential tremor is the presence of a damaged gene in one parent. However, even the presence of genetic mutations in the father and mother does not mean at all that the disease will manifest itself in the child over time. Despite this, it is important for a person with a poor heredity throughout life to carefully monitor the maintenance of good health and periodically visit a neurologist to undergo scheduled examinations.
Cases have been recorded when the pathology developed as a result of a violation of neural interactions between different parts of the brain. Often this happens after suffering a cranial injury. In this case, the likelihood of tremor formation in individuals who are genetically predisposed to the development of the disease is significantly increased.
Drug treatment
So we examined the causes and symptoms of essential tremor. Treatment of the disease involves the integrated use of a number of medications. In order to stop the effect of trembling of the extremities, it is important for the patient to regularly take pharmacological agents in the category of beta-blockers of adrenergic receptors. These include Primidon and Propranolol.
Doctors also prescribe the use of drugs "Gabapentin" and "Clonazepam", the action of which is aimed at relieving convulsive conditions. To suppress neurological manifestations in the form of emotional overstrain, unreasonable fears and increased anxiety, a person subject to essential tremor is required to take psychotropic drugs “Lorazepam” and “Diazepam”. Equally important is the use of drugs that act as a source of vitamin B6, which is necessary to stabilize the nervous system.
Physiotherapy
Positive changes in the treatment of essential tremor are observed if the patient pays attention to the implementation of special exercises of physiotherapy exercises daily. Such actions provide the return of control over the fine muscles of the upper limbs, the stabilization of breathing.
Arbitrary hand tremors are partially eliminated thanks to gymnastic procedures that improve fine motor skills of the fingers. A prerequisite for a speedy recovery is the implementation of such classes on a regular basis.
According to observations, getting a tremor of the upper extremities allows taking a contrast shower, undergoing a course of balneotherapy in a sanatorium. Acupuncture, relaxing and tonic massage help patients cope with nuisance.