Involuntary, rhythmic shaking movements of body parts, most commonly affecting the hands. It can be resting (occurring at rest) or action tremor (occurring during movement), with various underlying causes.
From Latin 'tremor' meaning 'a shaking or quivering,' derived from 'tremere' (to tremble). The term has been used in medical contexts since ancient times, with systematic classification developing in the 19th century.
Tremor is like having an internal earthquake that affects different body parts - essential tremor gets worse when you try to use your hands (like trying to drink coffee), while Parkinson's tremor is most obvious when you're at rest! Interestingly, some people's tremors completely disappear during sleep or can be temporarily stopped by alcohol, which is why some patients unfortunately self-medicate.
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