Many people immediately assume that they have Parkinson's disease if they have symptoms of shaking hands, uncontrolled movements of other body parts, or in medical terms it is called a tremor. In fact, tremor is indeed one of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, but there are also types of tremors that are experienced by more than 41 million people worldwide and are not included in the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. This type of tremor is known as essential tremor.
Essential tremor is the most common type of tremor. Symptoms include trembling hands when doing activities, a vibrating voice when speaking, and difficulty walking. This type of tremor has a fairly slow progress , although in some people, essential tremor can become an obstacle in carrying out daily activities such as eating, dressing and writing. Essential tremor usually affects those aged 40 years and over, but some cases of essential tremor are found in those under 40 years of age. The exact cause of essential tremor itself cannot be ascertained, but it can be said that this tremor is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. One of the differences between essential tremor and tremor symptoms in Parkinson's disease lies in the time of its appearance, where essential tremor occurs when the limb is being used for activities, whereas Parkinson's tremor will appear when the limb is not being used or resting.
Tremor treatment procedures are quite diverse and it depends on the diagnosis of the cause. The doctor may give drugs such as propranolol , primidone, or sedatives if the tremor symptoms are still relatively mild. However, if the use of drugs does not provide satisfactory results, the doctor will usually recommend that the patient undergo surgery. One of the most commonly used methods of treating essential tremor without unnecessary incisions is Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).
Deep Brain Stimulation is a minimally invasive surgery by placing electrodes in the brain which are connected through fine wires to the pacemaker (stimulation device) which is placed under the skin of the collarbone. In Parkinson's disease, stimulation will be given to areas that are deeper and closer to the thalamus (brain stem). Whereas in essential tremor, stimulation will be carried out in the thalamus . Stimulation begins by sending an electric current through the electrodes so that it will disrupt the communication of the tremor cells. Minimally invasive Deep Brain Stimulation surgery has a percentage of 80% so it is significant for reducing tremors compared to treatment through drugs. That way, essential tremor patients can reduce the use of drugs or even no longer use drugs to stop tremors.
The DBS method itself is the standard for treating essential tremor as well as tremor in Parkinson's disease in the world because it has minimal risks compared to other types of surgery such as thalamotomy . Devices implanted in the brain can also be reprogrammed wirelessly and painlessly. Apart from using the DBS method, doctors will also encourage patients to start a healthy lifestyle, such as avoiding smoking, reducing alcohol and caffeine and even better not consuming them at all. Adjusting the way and pattern of eating as well as sufficient rest is important to prevent tremors from getting stronger.
The DBS procedure has been proven to be effective in reducing tremors in patients while reducing trauma in patients due to excessive surgical incisions. Technological advances in essential tremor treatment procedures and competent neurologists will help patients carry out their daily activities. #LiveExcellently