Hands shake for a variety of reasons that can range from normal physical responses to underlying medical conditions. Common causes include:
- Physiologic tremor: Everyone has a slight natural hand tremor that sometimes becomes more noticeable during stress, fatigue, or after caffeine consumption.
- Essential tremor: A common neurological condition causing shaking during purposeful movement, often hereditary.
- Parkinson’s disease: Causes shaking mostly at rest, often one-sided, and gets worse over time.
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia): Can cause shakiness along with hunger and lightheadedness.
- Medication side effects: Some medications like antidepressants or asthma inhalers can cause tremors.
- Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism): Increases metabolism and heart rate, causing shaking.
- Other factors such as anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, lack of sleep, or nerve damage can also cause hands to shake.
If the shaking is persistent, worsening, or interferes with daily tasks, it is advisable to see a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment options.
