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| Alternative Names: | Tremor - familial
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| Symptoms: | - Tremors
- Occasional (sporadic), temporary (episodic), or ceasing at intervals (intermittent)
- A rate of about 6 to 10 per second (when tremors are occurring)
- Affecting the head, hands, arms, eyelids or voice
- Less commonly affect the lower body
- May not affect both sides of the body equally
- Tremors that worsen with voluntary movement and emotional stress
- Tremors that disappear during sleep
- Tremors that may improve with alcohol
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| Signs and tests: | Diagnosis is usually made on the basis of the patient's history and an examination that reveals tremors on voluntary movement with no changes in gait or coordination. There are usually no other abnormalities (such as dementia) or changes in mental status or brain function.
No other tests may be required. However, testing may be used to rule out other causes of tremors such as excessive caffeine, alcohol withdrawal, medication use, hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma, Wilson's disease, or other disorders. Laboratory tests and a head CT scan, MRI, X-rays, angiography, or other tests are usually normal.
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Review Date: 7/28/2002
Reviewed By: Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos, M.D., MSc, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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