Essential Tremor

Diagnosis

Essential tremor is diagnosed by ruling out other possible causes. Physicians may check for problems such as thyroid disease, heavy metal poisoning or drug side effects and perform physical and neurological examinations.

People who have essential tremor may sometimes be misdiagnosed as having more serious problems such as Parkinson's disease. Movement disorders specialists at Mayo Clinic have the experience and tools to make an accurate diagnosis.

Key differences between essential tremor and Parkinson's disease include:

• Essential tremor usually occurs during activity; the tremor of Parkinson's disease can occur anytime.
• Signs of Parkinson's disease also include a fixed facial expression and infrequent blinking, and patients with Parkinson's disease also tend to become rigid and stooped. They walk in small steps.
• Essential tremor and Parkinson's can both involve the hands. However, the tremor of Parkinson's rarely involves the head and face.