As a child, I noticed my uncle’s hands shaking. Typically when holding a drink, or eating food. My parents said it was alcoholism. I have seen many older people with shaking hands, yet my mom and dad are both 75, and their hands do not noticeably shake. I have a friend whom I met when he was 33. He is not a heavy drinker, although he enjoys coffee, and his hands shake when picking up a cup or fork.
Is this heretary? What’s it called? What other factors contribute? Have tests been done on this?
Could be Parkinson’s disease.
It causes tremors.
That is a start, but I think there is more. These people were able to talk without problems.
I had a co-worker who had a tremor like this, which usually only manifested itself when picking up a beverage one-handed, whilst using smallest of small-motor controls only (three-fingering a teacup by its handle). He called it “essential tremor”. A Google on that is enlightening.
Campaigning for public office.
Sorry.
Parkinson’s and Essential Tremors seem to be the two most common reasons that people have tremors, although there are others.
There’s a big difference in hypoactive the tremors associated with Parkinson’s and the hyperactive tremors associated with Essential Tremors. Parkinson’s tremors occur while the affected appendage is at rest, while ET manifests when the appendage is being used.
Next time we have a HouDope I’ll try to remember to not take my medication (I have ET) that day and demonstrate hyperactive tremors for you. Or maybe I’ll be happy to just tell you about them.
Of the two, ET is preferable by a long shot.
I was wondering if our wonderful Ringo would pop in and answer your question.
There are numerous nerve disorders that cause this, not just alcoholism. Like he said they can be controlled but they don’t seem to be completely controlled by medication.
So next time you come across someone that has the “shakes” it could be many things.
I used to get that with my panic or anxiety attacks…uncontrollable shaking. It’s very embarassing, especially in the throws of such an attack. Used to make me even more anxious and more shakey. Crap, it would affect my vision too. It’s weird.
I used to smoke up to 3-1/2 packs of cigarettes a day. My hands trembled all the time. I quite smoking about 30 years ago and my hands no longer tremble.
I don’t smoke, or drink. My hands have shook since I was about 12 (I’ll be 41 on Tuesday<sigh>). So do my fathers. I once took Inderal<sp?> but it didn’t help, so I have learn to live with it. My biggest problem is picking up hot drinks. 
I had never heard of Essential Tremors. Something to look into.
Ringo may I ask what medication you take?
Benign Essential Tremors are a true disorder and the condition is hereditary. My father (54) suffers from it severly and takes a combination of medications in order to function normally. His father had it and I myself have a slight case of it that I have noticed is getting progressivly worse as I age. I’m only 29 now but expect that I too will have to take medications in the next 20 years or so.
Important to note: My father has been stopped at road check points, or for other innocent reasons by police who have required breathalyzer tests from him due to his shakiness. If you are diagnosed with this affliction, carry some type of doctor’s note with you at all times.
Best of luck!
What kind of medication do you use? I have ET too but have never tried medication for it. Does it have side effects?
OH yeah, Thats how I got my nick name BTW. <---------
My hands shake almost constanly. It’s not as noticeable as Parkinson’s though. It’s just a slight shake in my hands, almost like a vibration, but not as quick, and it’s more sporadic in movement. It’s mostly noticeable when I’m holding something very light, like a piece of paper, or a card, or sometimes even a pen. Also, if I just hold my hand out and spread my fingers, you can see the slight shake.
I’m fairly young (24), and I’ve had it ever since I can remember. It happens more when I’m nervous, but that’s understandable. It also happens more when I play hockey or roller hockey, but I suppose that’s understandable too. Same thing for when I’m really fatigued.
I’m not sure what the reason is for this. Maybe just tense nerves, but anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m a fairly mellow guy who rarely succumbs to stress.
I’ve never really considered it to be a huge deal. It’s just always been there.
Quite a few medicines, including the most popular one for asthma, will also cause hnad tremors.
When someone extends their hand towards you and says something like “Hi, Nice to meet you” this will normally cause your hand to shake.
(sorry someone had to say it)
I thought everybody had some sort of shaky hand, due to pulse and the not-very-smooth firing of the individual muscle fibers. I know I did have quite a noticable shake when I was mainlining coffee by the pot, but even now, my hands have the slightest, most imperceptible tremor to them, expecially when extended at arm’s length or some other tiring position.
I can verify Kreekurmudgeon’s claim that asthma medicines (especially Abuterol) cause hand tremors and general jitters.
Also, I’ve been under an incredible amount of stress lately, and have developed some tremors in my right hand when I’m holding things. I’ve also got a twitch in my right eyelid. The doctor I went to see didn’t seem too concerned, but I do now have a perscription slip with “get a new job” written on it. 
And happy birthday Fogmage, my birthday’s tuesday too.
Caffeine can also do it. When I take two 200mg caffeine tablets within four hours, my hands visibly tremble.
I hadn’t heard of Essential Tremors either, but for Koth and Fogmage’s sake I mention Familial Tremors.
JC, my doc uses the term “Familial or Essential Tremor,” so I suspect it’s one and the same. SHAKES, I take 120 mg long-acting Inderal (propranolol) daily - it’s truly changed my life.
My hands are a bit shaky also and get worse when I get nervous. And since I am always nervous visiting the doctor, my hands go all over the place. Makes it hard for me in my job, which is in public service, when I have to handle an angry customer, because then my hands start to shake and my voice quivers and I sort of turn into William H. Macy’s character in “Fargo”.
However, my neurologist isn’t too concerned about them. I’m sure he’s treated enough Parkison’s patients to know when it’s a problem.