What are Parkinson’s Tremors?

By superadmin | March 21, 2018 |

People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) may experience a variety of symptoms. And, what one person experiences, the next may not. Usually, the symptoms of PD start when a person is between age 50 and age 60. They develop gradually and worsen over time. One symptom that is common in most people with PD is tremors. They occur in about 80 percent of people with the disease and can be one of the more difficult symptoms to deal with.

Elderly Care in Houston TX: Parkinson’s Tremors

Two Kinds of Parkinson’s Tremors.

A tremor is when a part of the body shakes uncontrollably. The typical Parkinson’s tremor is a slow and rhythmic movement. It often starts in just one body part, like a hand or foot. Eventually, though, it is likely to occur in both sides.

There are two basic kinds of tremors:

Resting Tremors: These tremors are the most often experienced in people with PD. They happen while the body part affected is relaxed. In the hands, they might look like the senior is rolling a small pill between their thumb and finger over and over again.
Action Tremors: Only around 25 percent of PD patients have action tremors. They happen while a person is making a voluntary movement.

Tremors can be especially difficult to cope with because they make it hard to do everyday tasks. Resting tremors may become worse when the senior tries to do something where the body part needs to be held in one position. For example, a hand may shake worse when the person holds an eating utensil, causing them to spill.

Treating Tremors.

There is no cure for Parkinson’s tremors. However, they can be treated using medications and, in some cases, surgery. The treatments used to control other symptoms of PD usually help to control tremors as well. Other things that may help with tremors are:

Physical therapy.
Consuming less caffeine.
Reducing stress.

The good news is that, according to the American Parkinson Disease Association, when a person’s most severe symptom is tremor, they often have a milder course of progression. They also tend to live longer. In addition, tremors are the only PD symptom that occasionally gets better without treatment.

Elderly care can be an effective way for older adults with PD to cope with tremors and other symptoms. Elderly care providers can assist with activities that become difficult due to tremors, such as eating. An elderly care provider can also ensure that your aging relative with PD remains safe when family caregivers cannot be with them due to work or other responsibilities. In addition, while the elderly care provider is keeping an eye on the senior, they can also assist with household duties, such as cleaning, laundry, and making meals.