# Medical advice

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-advice/792512>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 31, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-advice/792512 "2017-07-31T15:43:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2017, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-advice/792512/1 "2017-07-31T15:43:18Z")

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No, I’m not asking for advice from strangers on the internet for myself or someone else, but rather should I advise someone else to seek medical attention, hence IMHO.

A couple months ago I went on a trip with my brother three years younger than I (64 to be precise). I noticed during meals that his head would “hunt” – that is wobble a bit from side to side – about a cm or so when he was reading the menu or conversing with me. I put if off to stress and/or fatigue; you know how hard it is to get a consistent good night’s sleep on a road trip. Last Friday, though, I had lunch with him in town and noticed it had persisted.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I’m recalling that the phenomenon _could_ be a sign of something serious and consultation is recommended, but damned if I can recall what it might be indicating. Or it is entirely possible that my own head wobbles too, and I’m just unaware of it.

So, should I suggest my brother see a doc or just dismiss it as not significant?

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**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-advice/792512/2 "2017-08-01T04:16:58Z")

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IANAD etc.  
Head “wobbling” could be [benign essential tremor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essential_tremor) AKA familial tremor. It could also signal the onset of Parkinson’s disease. Or it could be something else entirely. If it was happening to me, I would go to my GP and if he/she was unable to confirm a diagnosis, I would see a neurologist.

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**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-advice/792512/3 "2017-08-01T21:55:44Z")

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I would ask my brother if he gets semi-annual check-ups with his doctor. If he says yes, I would mention what you noticed and leave it that. If he says no, you might want to suggest a check-up to see if the doctor thinks it’s an issue. That’s what a caring brother does.

If your brother says I never see a doctor I would explain your concern to him and don’t make a big deal about it. I would simply say “it’s probably nothing, but at our age you can’t be too careful about this kind of stuff…” and leave it at that.

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**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2017, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/medical-advice/792512/4 "2017-08-02T12:23:38Z")

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Thank you for your inputs (insput?). I wanted to check to see if there was any cause for concern at all before I brought it up. Looks like it’s slight but not zero.