What is the difference between tremors and seizures

Some of the most common forms of tremor include:. Essential tremor previously also called benign essential tremor or familial tremor is one of the most common movement disorders. The exact cause of essential tremor is unknown. For some people this tremor is mild and remains stable for many years. The tremor usually appears on both sides of the body, but is often noticed more in the dominant hand because it is an action tremor. The key feature of essential tremor is a tremor in both hands and arms, which is present during action and when standing still.

Additional symptoms may include head tremor e. The action tremor in both hands in essential tremor can lead to problems with writing, drawing, drinking from a cup, or using tools or a computer. Though the tremor can start at any age, it most often appears for the first time during adolescence or in middle age between ages 40 and Small amounts of alcohol may help decrease essential tremor, but the mechanism behind this is unknown.

About 50 percent of the cases of essential tremor are thought to be caused by a genetic risk factor referred to as familial tremor. Children of a parent who has familial tremor have greater risk of inheriting the condition. Familial forms of essential tremor often appear early in life. For many years essential tremor was not associated with any known disease. However, some scientists think essential tremor is accompanied by a mild degeneration of certain areas of the brain that control movement.

This is an ongoing debate in the research field. Dystonic tremor occurs in people who are affected by dystonia— a movement disorder where incorrect messages from the brain cause muscles to be overactive, resulting in abnormal postures or sustained, unwanted movements.

Dystonic tremor usually appears in young or middle-aged adults and can affect any muscle in the body. Symptoms may sometimes be relieved by complete relaxation. Although some of the symptoms are similar, dystonic tremor differs from essential tremor in some ways.

The dystonic tremor:. Cerebellar tremor is typically a slow, high-amplitude easily visible tremor of the extremities e. It is caused by damage to the cerebellum and its pathways to other brain regions resulting from a stroke or tumor. Damage also may be caused by disease such as multiple sclerosis or an inherited degenerative disorder such as ataxia in which people lose muscle control in the arms and legs and Fragile X syndrome a disorder marked by a range of intellectual and developmental problems.

It can also result from chronic damage to the cerebellum due to alcoholism. Psychogenic tremor also called functional tremor can appear as any form of tremor. It symptoms may vary but often start abruptly and may affect all body parts. The tremor increases in times of stress and decreases or disappears when distracted. Many individuals with psychogenic tremor have an underlying psychiatric disorder such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD.

Physiologic tremor occurs in all healthy individuals. It is rarely visible to the eye and typically involves a fine shaking of both of the hands and also the fingers. It is not considered a disease but is a normal human phenomenon that is the result of physical properties in the body for example, rhythmical activities such as heart beat and muscle activation.

Enhanced physiological tremor is a more noticeable case of physiologic tremor that can be easily seen. It is generally not caused by a neurological disease but by reaction to certain drugs, alcohol withdrawal, or medical conditions including an overactive thyroid and hypoglycemia.

It is usually reversible once the cause is corrected. Generally, symptoms include shaking in one or both hands at rest. It may also affect the chin, lips, face, and legs.

The tremor may initially appear in only one limb or on just one side of the body. As the disease progresses, it may spread to both sides of the body. The tremor is often made worse by stress or strong emotions. Orthostatic tremor is a rare disorder characterized by rapid muscle contractions in the legs that occur when standing.

Written by : Dr. Amita Fotedar -Dr. The incidence of seizures among children with autistic symptoms. The American journal of psychiatry. Classification of tremors. Journal of clinical neurophysiology, 13 2 , Diagnosis and treatment of common forms of tremor. In Seminars in neurology Vol. Seizures and epilepsy: an overview for neuroscientists. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 5 6 , a User assumes all risk of use, damage, or injury.

You agree that we have no liability for any damages. Author Recent Posts. She has around 35 national and international publications to her credit. Latest posts by Dr. Amita Fotedar -Dr see all. It's more common in Parkinson's disease than in MS. Action Tremor: This is any tremor occurring when there is voluntary activation or contraction of muscles.

For example, holding an arm outstretched arm requires muscle activity to hold the limb against gravity. Action tremors include kinetic, intention, and postural tremors.

Kinetic Tremor: Kinetic tremor is a subclass of action tremors. This is the tremor which occurs during movement of a body part it could equally be called a movement tremor. Simple kinetic tremor can be brought out by the clinician by asking the subject to carry out simple rotary movements of the forearm or flexion and extension movements of the wrist. Those with postural tremors will often be shown to have tremor during movement.

Intention Tremor: Complex kinetic tremor is normally referred to as "intention tremor" and is a subclass of action tremors. It manifests when the affected person is either making a "purposeful movement" or when they are aiming for a target.

This means there is no shaking at rest. The tremor develops as the person attempts to reach or grasp something or move a hand or foot to a precise spot. This is the most common and generally the most disabling form of tremor that occurs in people with MS. Hand intention tremors are usually the result of damage to the cerebellum. Postural Tremor: Postural tremor is a subclass of action tremors. This is the tremor which is present while voluntarily maintaining a position against gravity, like an outstretched arm.

Postural tremors require voluntary or purposive contraction of muscles. A person who has a postural tremor will shake while sitting or standing, but not while lying down. The most common examples would be exaggerated physiological tremor and essential tremors. They may also become exaggerated in specific postures.