Trembling hands, also called hand tremor, are characterized by an unintentional rhythmic shaking of the hands. According to MedlinePlus, most cases of tremor affect the middle-aged and elderly, though they can affect people of any age. Trembling hands may affect people who are otherwise healthy or who are affected by diseases that are associated with additional symptoms. There are various different disease and substances that may cause trembling hands.
Drugs and Alcohol
Merck Manuals, an online medical library, reports that multiple substances cause trembling hands. For example, caffeine in coffee and soda may cause the hands to tremble. In addition, drugs that are used to treat various respiratory diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), may also cause hand trembling. These drugs include theophylline, albuterol and corticosteroids. A review by P. Charles, M.D., and colleagues at Vanderbilt University published in March 1999 by the journal "American Family Physician" notes that trembling of the hands is a significant symptom of alcohol withdrawal. Interestingly, alcohol withdrawal caused trembling only in the hands; no other parts of the body were affected.
Essential Tremor
The review by Dr. Charles also reports that another cause of trembling hands is called essential tremor, which is described as shaking of the hands when the arm or hand is positioned against gravity. According to Merck Manuals, essential tremor usually affects the hands during intentional motion, such as shaving or sewing. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) reports that trembling hands associated with essential tremor may be aggravated by heightened emotion, low blood sugar, stress and/or physical exhaustion. Furthermore, essential tremor is inherited, and parents have a 50 percent chance of passing on the tremor to their children.
Neurological Disorders
Diseases that affect the nerves, such as Parkinson's disease, also cause trembling hands. Merck Manuals describes how trembling of the hands associated with Parkinson's disease usually occurs when the hands are at rest, in contrast to the tremors associated with an essential tremor. Other neurological disorders that cause trembling, described by Merck Manuals, are multiple sclerosis and stroke.
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