I don't drink or smoke but sometimes my hand starts shaking for no reason is it a cause for concern?

Question

Hello lybrate-user.
Staying still is actually quite a complicated feat; The final information sent to muscles (which determines what they do at each moment) comes from many areas in the brain.
The most common type of shake is due to danger/anxiety- since a generalized activation of the nervous & motor systems is a way of "turning on the gas" when you need to either fight or outrun a predator. Before you actually choose a course of action, your engine remains "on idle" ready for action, and may be expressed as shaking limbs.
The frontal lobe (which matures with age) can inhibit impulsive motions. If you look at a bunch of children lined up in the school yard (immature frontal lobes), you'll see a lot of them swaying. (In ADHD, the failure to inhibit motor activation is even more pronounced and you'll see grabbing, hair pulling, leaving one's seat, etc)
In neurology, two basic types of shaking (tremors) are described
"Resting" and "On Intention"
A "Resting Tremor" is seen in Parkinson's Disease, as the Basal Ganglia (a special movement related system in the brain) runs short on Dopamine (a chemical it manufactures).
It's called a "resting tremor" because it occurs only when the person is trying to be still and goes away the moment he initiates an action.
A tremor "On Intention" means that the shake occurs as part of an action, such as when you "touch your nose" or "run the heel of your right foot along the shin of your left foot. As your finger nears your nose, or your heel nears your shin, the inaccuracy increases, so the finger/leg shakes wildly. This is associated with disorders of the cerebellum, but is also noted with alcohol intoxication and is often tested by asking someone to walk a straight line.
If you are a bundle of nerves and always shaking, it would be a good idea to use up some of your stress though exercise. There are also series of cognitive exercises which help with motor (muscular) relaxation (Jacobian relaxation techniques)
Thank YOu and ALL THE BEST.

Rachna Mishra · Accepted Answer

Hello lybrate-user.
Staying still is actually quite a complicated feat; The final information sent to muscles (which determines what they do at each moment) comes from many areas in the brain.
The most common type of shake is due to danger/anxiety- since a generalized activation of the nervous & motor systems is a way of "turning on the gas" when you need to either fight or outrun a predator. Before you actually choose a course of action, your engine remains "on idle" ready for action, and may be expressed as shaking limbs.
The frontal lobe (which matures with age) can inhibit impulsive motions. If you look at a bunch of children lined up in the school yard (immature frontal lobes), you'll see a lot of them swaying. (In ADHD, the failure to inhibit motor activation is even more pronounced and you'll see grabbing, hair pulling, leaving one's seat, etc)
In neurology, two basic types of shaking (tremors) are described
"Resting" and "On Intention"
A "Resting Tremor" is seen in Parkinson's Disease, as the Basal Ganglia (a special movement related system in the brain) runs short on Dopamine (a chemical it manufactures).
It's called a "resting tremor" because it occurs only when the person is trying to be still and goes away the moment he initiates an action.
A tremor "On Intention" means that the shake occurs as part of an action, such as when you "touch your nose" or "run the heel of your right foot along the shin of your left foot. As your finger nears your nose, or your heel nears your shin, the inaccuracy increases, so the finger/leg shakes wildly. This is associated with disorders of the cerebellum, but is also noted with alcohol intoxication and is often tested by asking someone to walk a straight line.
If you are a bundle of nerves and always shaking, it would be a good idea to use up some of your stress though exercise. There are also series of cognitive exercises which help with motor (muscular) relaxation (Jacobian relaxation techniques)
Thank YOu and ALL THE BEST.

Jagadeesan M.S. · Answer

Nicotine is the active ingredient in cigarette and chewable tobacco. But there are hundreds of other carcinogens and psycho-active substances and they are highly dangerous to the physical and psychological health a person. People can smoke as unhealthy way of coping stress, part of nicotine withdrawal, to overcome short term depression and anxiety (which it worsens over a longer term). To overcome this the withdrawal needs to be addressed and anti craving medications started and comorbid anxiety, etc like psychological and constipation, etc like physical symptoms needs to be treated. So you kindly consult a psychiatrist to stop smoking. All the best.