Why Do Hands Shake? Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease
Many people notice a small shaking in their hand and ignore it. They think it is weakness, stress, or just tiredness. But sometimes, handshaking can be an early sign of Parkinson’s disease. Not every tremor means Parkinson’s. But understanding the difference is important. What Is Parkinson’s Disease? Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder. It affects movement. It happens when certain nerve cells in the brain slowly stop working. These cells produce dopamine, a chemical that helps control smooth and balanced body movements. When dopamine levels drop, movement becomes slow, stiff, or shaky. Why Do Hands Shake in Parkinson’s? The most common early symptom of Parkinson’s disease is a resting tremor. This means the hand shakes when it is relaxed, such as when sitting quietly. The shaking often improves when the person starts using the hand. The tremor usually begins on one side of the body. For example, only the right hand may shake at first. Over time, it may affec...