Clinical Differentiation of Tremor February 9, 1997

Clinical Differentiation of Tremor February 9, 1997

The most common type of tremor is Parkinson’s disease, typically occurring in middle age, with prominent resting tremors mainly affecting both hands, followed by the face and lower limbs. In summary, the three major characteristics are tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia, caused by dopamine deficiency in the brain; treatment primarily involves levodopa and antiparkinsonian drugs. Besides primary Parkinson’s disease, there are also post-encephalitis, alcohol poisoning, manganese poisoning, and other sequelae that produce similar symptoms, collectively referred to as Parkinsonism. Another common type is tremor associated with arteriosclerosis, which tends to be larger-scale, including shaking and convulsions. Then there is familial tremor, which is hereditary, mild at rest but more pronounced during voluntary movement, with a better prognosis; it can usually be treated with traditional Chinese medicines such as Da Ding Feng Zhu and San Jia Fu Mai Tang. Antiparkinsonian drugs can also be used. Hyperthyroidism can also cause tremors, which are fine tremors mainly affecting both hands; Western medicines such as methimazole and propylthiouracil can treat them, while traditional Chinese medicines like Da Ding Feng Zhu and Xiao Feng San can also be effective.