What it means
An involuntary, back-and-forth shaking movement, most often of the hands, but it can affect the head, voice or legs. A resting tremor happens when the body part is relaxed and lessens with movement; an intention tremor gets worse as the person reaches for something. Tremor can come from nerve diseases such as Parkinson diseasePAR-kin-sun dih-ZEEZA slowly worsening brain disease in which the nerve cells that help control movement die off.Full entry , from drugs, caffeine, anxiety, alcohol withdrawal or an overactive thyroid.
For the nurse
Describe it: which body part, at rest or with movement, and whether it is new. Check how it affects eating, writing and dressing, and offer aids such as weighted utensils. New tremors after starting a drug, or in a client who has stopped drinking alcohol, are reported.
In a chart
"Fine resting tremor noted in right hand, decreases when client reaches for cup."
At a glance
| Everyday words | shaking |
|---|---|
| Spanish | temblor |
| Also written | tremors, tremulous |
Related terms
neur/o
A word root that means nerve or the nervous system.
Parkinson disease
A slowly worsening brain disease in which the nerve cells that help control movement die off.
hyperthyroidism
A condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone.