Indeed, there is no greater wealth than health in this life. Our connection to life diminishes when we start to lose this wealth. Sometimes we can't hold a spoon, take a step, or drink a glass of water, sometimes we can't fasten a button or even sign a document. It is in these moments of incapacity that we truly grasp the significance of life's routine activities.

Sometimes we forget their importance, we get lost in our daily routines, and we neglect our health without paying attention to the signals our body is sending us.

One of those signals is tremors. Tremors that seriously affect your life while eating, drinking water, getting dressed, are called "Essential Tremor", this condition manifests during actions or routines, impeding individuals from fulfilling their daily needs and rendering them dependent on others. The inability to control these tremors begets stress, which in turn exacerbates the tremors. Moreover, many afflicted individuals grapple with feelings of shame or anxiety, concealing their condition from those around them. Thankfully, numerous treatment options exist for this ailment."

Essential Tremor: One of the Most Common Movement Disorders in the World

Essential tremor can be defined as a neurological disease that causes an involuntary rhythmic movement in a part of the body. Tremors can occur in the hands, arms, head, legs, or other parts of the body. Symptoms of this disease may include difficulty writing and signing, problems and drinking, exacerbated by stress and accompanied by balance issues.

Essential tremor, which occurs without an underlying cause and is often inherited genetically, can also be seen in other family members. Essential tremor, one of the most common movement disorders in the world, is 10 times more common than Parkinson's disease. In our country, hand and head tremors seen in 4 out of every 100 people over the age of 40 are caused by this disease.

Seeking consultation from a neurologist specializing in movement disorders is crucial for individuals experiencing such tremors. Timely and accurate diagnosis, coupled with prompt intervention, significantly influences the overall quality of life.

How to Distinguish it from Parkinson's Tremor

Essential tremor is often confused with Parkinson's disease when we talk about tremors. Parkinson's tremor occurs at rest. In other words, your hands tremble when you put them on your knees while resting. This is accompanied by slowness in movements, difficulty walking, and is mostly seen in elderly patients. The most basic symptom of essential tremor and the difference from Parkinson's is that the tremors are seen during physical activity. The hands tremble, for example, while eating or drinking water. In short; tremors occur during daily routines and while performing an action. Tremor symptoms, regardless of type, usually occur during the day and are exacerbated in patients who are anxious or thoughtful, or in cases of increased nervous tension. However, tremors are not observed during sleep.

What are the Most Effective Treatment Methods for Essential Tremor?

All movement disorders that occur with tremors are initially treated with medication. For patients who do not respond adequately to medications from the beginning or in whom tremors increase over time while receiving medical treatment or cannot be controlled with medical treatment, Deep Brain Stimulation surgery is recommended and provide very successful results.

Another recently applied technology is Smart Transcranial Treatment (MRgFUS). In cases where Deep Brain Stimulation surgery is not appropriate; or when the patient does not want to undergo this surgical procedure, the "Smart Transcranial Treatment" method is also significantly useful in stopping tremors. This outpatient method, conducted within an MR unit without cranial incisions, has proven highly effective in stopping tremors. By delivering a concentrated array of ultrasound waves, this procedure elevates heat at specific brain regions responsible for tremors, inducing localized lesion and halting tremor activity.

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