[자료 제공 = 인천나누리병원 뇌신경센터]Shaking hands is usually a temporary phenomenon, such as physiological tremor, rather than a symptom of a serious illness.
However, care must be taken as it can sometimes cause disease depending on the pattern of hand tremor. Representative diseases that can be suspected of hand tremor are essential tremor known as tremor and Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative brain disease. According to data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of patients with both diseases has nearly doubled in the past 10 years, and Parkinson’s disease, in particular, has surpassed 110,000 patients as of 2020. Essential tremor (tremor) and Parkinson’s disease are difficult diseases to cure, but since essential tremor (handlerosis) is not life-threatening, there is no need to treat it unless there is much discomfort in daily life. However, since Parkinson’s disease is a terrifying disease that slowly hardens and eventually leads to death if left untreated, an early accurate diagnosis and active treatment are essential.
How to differentiate between essential tremor (tremor), Parkinson’s disease, and hand tremor?
The timing of hand tremor is different in essential tremor (hand tremor) and Parkinson’s disease. In essential tremor (hand tremor), the hand trembles when picking up objects or performing certain actions, whereas in Parkinson’s disease, the hand trembles even when standing still. In addition, although essential tremor can come at any age, Parkinson’s disease occurs more often in the elderly aged 65 years or older. The two diseases also have different patterns of shaking hands. Essential tremor (tremor) usually causes tremors in both hands, whereas in Parkinson’s disease, tremors begin in one hand first. In essential tremor, the hands tremble up and down, whereas in Parkinson’s disease, the hands tremble back and forth.
Parkinson’s disease, one of the three major degenerative brain diseases along with dementia and stroke, is a disease caused by the gradual loss of dopamine (neurotransmitter) neurons in the substantia nigra in the midbrain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that allows the body to move at its own pace. When dopamine is not properly secreted, it becomes difficult to move the body freely, and motor neuron abnormalities such as body tremors, stiffness, and postural instability appear.
If any of the following symptoms occur, it is best to visit a hospital and get tested. △ Slowing behavior (Brothysis) △ Severe sleep talk △ Depression and negative emotional changes △ Olfactory/gustatory numbness △ Consistent facial expression, including unintentionally trembling or sluggish movements of one hand, inability to move one arm or stiffness when walking If you feel like it, you may have Parkinson’s disease.
Treatment is not necessary in the case of mild essential tremor as long as it does not interfere with normal life. However, if the symptoms of tremor are severe, it can also be accompanied by psychological pressure, leading to depression and mental disorders. If it is difficult to lead a normal life, treatment is required. The most effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease is to delay the symptoms through active treatment in the early stage of the disease.
Yeji Kwon (neurologist) at Incheon Nanuri Hospital’s Brain and Neurology Center said, “Since the cause and pattern of occurrence are different for each patient, it is necessary to undergo a detailed examination following treatment with a specialist for accurate identification. If you have symptoms of tremor due to another disease This is because treatment methods are different. Both Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor can be maintained in good condition for a long time if managed through appropriate medications and regular exercise.”
Drug treatment for Parkinson’s disease does not cure the disease or stop its progression, but rather aims to replenish the dopamine deficiency so that the patient can perform well in daily life. Until now, there is no drug that regenerates dopaminergic neurons, so treatment must be started from the early stage of the disease.
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