ESSENTIAL TREMOR
The most common pathologic tremor is essential tremor. In one-half of cases, it is transmitted in an autosomal dominant fashion, and it affects 0.4 to 6 percent of the population.4,8 Careful history reveals that patients with essential tremor have it in early adulthood (or sooner), but most patients do not seek help for it until 70 years of age because of its progressive nature. Despite being sometimes called “benign essential tremor,” essential tremor often causes severe social embarrassment, and up to 25 percent of those afflicted retire early or modify their career path.8
Essential tremor is an action tremor, usually postural, but kinetic and even sporadic rest tremors have also been described.3,11 It is most obvious in the wrists and hands when patients hold their arms in front of themselves (resisting gravity); however, essential tremor can also affect the head, lower extremities, and voice.12 It is generally bilateral, is present with a variety of tasks, and interferes with activities of daily living.1,5 In a series of 200 Italian patients referred to a neurologist for evaluation of tremor, 15 percent had uncommon clinical features that included postural, action, rest, orthostatic, and writing tremors, and 10 percent had tongue or facial dyskinesia.13
Diagnostic criteria have been proposed, but none have been accepted universally. Persons with essential tremor typically have no other neurologic findings; therefore, it is often considered a diagnosis of exclusion.12 If the tremor responds to a therapeutic trial of alcohol consumption (two drinks per day), the diagnosis of essential tremor is assured.
文献链接：Differentiation and Diagnosis of Tremor
这个主要可能是看神经科：neurologist，排除一些器质性的疾病。
