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How to Handle Stop Shaking Hands Step by Step
When stop shaking hands leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.
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1
Get at least 7 hours of sleep a night to prevent tremors.
Noticeable hand tremors often occur when you get too little sleep at night. Eric Baron, DO Board Certified Neurologist Expert Interview Sleep helps regulate your autonomic nervous system, as well as your heartbeat and blood pressure, to keep body tremors in check. To limit your shaking, set a bedtime routine for yourself.
- Establish a consistent sleep schedule
- Create a relaxing bedtime environment
- Avoid screens before bedtime
- Noticeable hand tremors often occur when you get too little sleep at night.
- Eric Baron, DO Board Certified Neurologist Expert Interview Sleep helps regulate your autonomic nervous system, as well as your heartbeat and blood pressure, to keep body tremors in check.
2
Avoid alcohol, which can worsen hand tremors in the long run.
In the short term, alcohol can reduce your inhibitions and calm your nervous hand tremors. However, once the alcohol wears off, your hand shaking is likely to become worse. Limit your alcohol consumption to 1 drink on any given day for women or 2 drinks for men to keep your tremors to a minimum.
- Limit daily alcohol intake
- Avoid drinking before bedtime
- Be aware of hidden sources of alcohol
- In the short term, alcohol can reduce your inhibitions and calm your nervous hand tremors.
- However, once the alcohol wears off, your hand shaking is likely to become worse.
3
Cut back on stimulants like caffeine and nicotine.
Avoid drinking tea, coffee, cola, or other caffeinated drinks if you have recurring hand tremors. Eric Baron, DO Board Certified Neurologist Expert Interview Caffeine stimulates your nerves which can lead to shaking, so opt for caffeine-free beverages like water and herbal tea instead. Then, avoid smoking, vaping, and chewing tobacco.
- Avoid caffeinated drinks
- Switch to caffeine-free alternatives
- Quit smoking or vaping if possible
- Avoid drinking tea, coffee, cola, or other caffeinated drinks if you have recurring hand tremors.
- Eric Baron, DO Board Certified Neurologist Expert Interview Caffeine stimulates your nerves which can lead to shaking, so opt for caffeine-free beverages like water and herbal tea instead.
4
Practice relaxation techniques to reduce your hand shaking.
Minor hand shaking is often brought on when people experience stressful or anxiety-inducing situations, like public speaking. These hand tremors are very common, though they might feel embarrassing or distracting. To control these tremors, do activities that help your mind and body relax like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises.
- Try progressive muscle relaxation
- Practice mindfulness meditation
- Use visualization techniques to calm down
- Minor hand shaking is often brought on when people experience stressful or anxiety-inducing situations, like public speaking.
- These hand tremors are very common, though they might feel embarrassing or distracting.
5
See your doctor to determine the cause of your shaking hands.
If your hand shaking interferes with your daily activities or gets worse over time, see your doctor as soon as possible. Eric Baron, DO Board Certified Neurologist Expert Interview They can help you determine if an illness, condition, or medication is causing your hand shaking and prescribe you treatment. While visiting the doctor, be sure to ask about controlling tremors with medications like beta-blockers.
- Schedule a doctor’s appointment
- Ask about beta blockers
- Inquire about other treatment options
- If your hand shaking interferes with your daily activities or gets worse over time, see your doctor as soon as possible.
- Eric Baron, DO Board Certified Neurologist Expert Interview They can help you determine if an illness, condition, or medication is causing your hand shaking and prescribe you treatment.
6
Ask about controlling tremors with medications like beta-blockers.
While some types of hand shaking cannot be cured, certain prescription drugs can help ease your condition. Talk to your doctor about what types of medications, if any, are right for you. The most common prescriptions to help treat hand tremors are beta blockers, which can reduce the physical symptoms of hand tremors.
- Discuss medication options
- Understand how beta blockers work
- Be aware of potential side effects
- While some types of hand shaking cannot be cured, certain prescription drugs can help ease your condition.
- Talk to your doctor about what types of medications, if any, are right for you.
7
Discuss getting Botox injections to relax your overactive muscles.
Ask your doctor if getting Botox injected into your hands or fingers might help your particular hand tremors. For tremors without a known cause, Botox is effective at relaxing and freezing the nerves in your hands that cause the shaking. Be sure to get your doctor’s approval before seeking this treatment, as it does not address underlying causes of the tremors.
- Understand how Botox works
- Discuss potential risks and side effects
- Weigh benefits against risks
- Ask your doctor if getting Botox injected into your hands or fingers might help your particular hand tremors.
- For tremors without a known cause, Botox is effective at relaxing and freezing the nerves in your hands that cause the shaking.
8
Go to physical therapy to help improve your muscle control.
If your hand shaking is interfering with your ability to do regular tasks, ask your doctor to refer you to an occupational therapist for physical therapy. A physical therapist typically gives you exercises to build strength and improve the function of your hand muscles. Over time, this can limit tremors caused by an illness or condition.
- Schedule a physical therapy appointment
- Understand how physical therapy can help
- Be prepared for exercise routine
- If your hand shaking is interfering with your ability to do regular tasks, ask your doctor to refer you to an occupational therapist for physical therapy.
- A physical therapist typically gives you exercises to build strength and improve the function of your hand muscles.
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References
- https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/tremor
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/essential-tremor/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350539
- https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/health-professionals-communities/core-resource-on-alcohol/basics-defining-how-much-alcohol-too-much
- https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/04/07/298361607/involuntary-shaking-could-be-caused-by-essential-tremors
- https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/tremor-or-shaking-hands/
- https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/tremor-shaking-hands/
- https://patient.info/signs-symptoms/tremors-shaking
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4772032/
- https://medlineplus.gov/tremor.html
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/are-you-bound-to-get-shaky-ands-as-you-age
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/essential-tremor-disorder
- https://www.bcm.edu/healthcare/specialties/neurology/parkinsons-disease-and-movement-disorders/functional-movement-disorders
- https://news.ohsu.edu/2022/04/21/new-treatment-for-tremors-cutting-edge-brain-surgery-with-no-cutting
- https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/low-blood-sugar-hypoglycemia.html
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