What hands are always shaking like when try to consciously keep it firm and still it shakes

Reading File
Finding Sources
Finding Sources
Reading File
Reading File
What you're describing — hands that shake when you try to hold them still or perform a deliberate action — is called action tremor or, most commonly, Essential Tremor (ET).
Here's a breakdown:

What Is It?

Essential Tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder, affecting ~1% of the general population and up to 5% of people over age 60. It is characterized by:
  • Tremor that appears when holding a posture (e.g., arms outstretched) — called postural tremor
  • Tremor that appears during voluntary movement (e.g., reaching for something) — called action/kinetic tremor
  • The tremor is NOT present at rest — this is the key distinguishing feature
This perfectly matches what you described: trying to hold your hand firm and still, but it shakes anyway.

How It Differs from Other Tremors

TypeWhen it occursCommon Cause
Essential tremorDuring action/posture (holding still)Most common; often runs in families
Parkinson's tremorAt REST (pill-rolling), quiets with movementParkinson's disease
Cerebellar tremorWorsens as hand approaches a targetCerebellar damage
Physiologic tremorFine tremor, normal; worsened by caffeine, anxiety, fatigueNormal variant

Key Features of Essential Tremor

  • Frequency: 6–10 Hz (relatively fast)
  • Location: Usually both hands/arms; can also affect the head and voice
  • Family history: Often positive (sometimes called "familial tremor")
  • Alcohol effect: Classically improves temporarily with small amounts of alcohol
  • Does NOT indicate Parkinson's — though both involve shaking, they are different conditions

What Makes It Worse?

  • Anxiety or stress
  • Caffeine
  • Fatigue
  • Certain medications (lithium, valproate, stimulants)
  • Hyperthyroidism (a treatable cause to rule out)

Treatment Options

If the tremor is bothersome:
  • Propranolol (beta-blocker) — first-line medication
  • Primidone (anticonvulsant) — also first-line
  • Avoiding triggers (caffeine, stress)
  • In severe cases: deep brain stimulation (DBS)

Bottom line: Hands that shake specifically when you try to hold them firm or use them (but are calm at rest) is the classic picture of essential tremor. It's common, benign, but can range from barely noticeable to functionally limiting. If it's interfering with daily tasks, a neurologist can confirm the diagnosis and discuss treatment.
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 22E, p. 3552; Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology, 12th Ed., p. 97

Is it harmful. Age 15. It’s just palm

Finding Sources
Finding Sources
Reading File
Short answer: No, it is not harmful. Essential tremor is a benign condition — it does not damage the brain, does not progress to something dangerous, and does not shorten life.
Here's what's relevant for a 15-year-old:

Is it dangerous?

No. Essential tremor causes no structural brain damage and is not a sign of a serious disease. The textbook specifically states:
"Many cases are mild, do not cause any functional impairment, and require no treatment other than reassurance." — Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 22E

Can it happen at age 15?

Yes. ET can present in childhood, though it becomes more common with age. In younger people it is often milder and may stay mild for years or decades.

Common causes of tremor in teenagers to consider

A few things can trigger or worsen an otherwise minor tremor at that age:
CauseNotes
CaffeineEnergy drinks, coffee, soda — very common trigger in teens
Anxiety / stressExtremely common at 15; activates the nervous system
Fatigue / poor sleepMakes any tremor worse
Low blood sugarSkipping meals
HyperthyroidismOveractive thyroid — easy to rule out with a blood test
Familial ETRuns in families; benign

What to do

  • No urgent action needed if the tremor is mild and only in the palms during action
  • Reduce caffeine if consumed regularly — this alone often helps significantly
  • See a doctor once just to rule out thyroid issues or other simple causes — a basic blood test covers this
  • No need to worry about Parkinson's or anything serious at age 15

Bottom line: A palm tremor that only shows up when trying to hold still, at age 15, is almost certainly benign — most likely a physiologic or essential tremor, possibly worsened by caffeine, stress, or fatigue. It's worth one doctor's visit to confirm, but there is nothing to be alarmed about.

Can a person become doc with it

Yes, absolutely. Having essential tremor does not disqualify anyone from becoming a doctor.
Here's the reality:

Most medical specialties are unaffected

The vast majority of medical work does not require perfectly steady hands:
  • Physician (general medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, radiology, pathology, internal medicine, dermatology) — tremor is completely irrelevant
  • Diagnostics, clinical reasoning, patient communication — these are the core skills of most doctors

Surgery is a specific consideration — but still often possible

Even surgeons with mild essential tremor practice successfully. A few points:
  • Mild tremor (like what you're describing — only when consciously holding still) is often not noticeable during actual procedural work, because active, purposeful movement can actually suppress it
  • Many surgeons have some degree of physiologic tremor and compensate naturally
  • If tremor were severe enough to be a problem, medication (propranolol) taken before procedures can reduce it significantly — some surgeons already do this
  • Robotic surgery (e.g., da Vinci system) electronically filters out hand tremor — this technology is increasingly common

Famous example

Many physicians and surgeons throughout history have practiced with tremor conditions. It is not a barrier recognized by medical licensing boards in most countries.

What actually matters for becoming a doctor

  • Academic performance
  • Clinical knowledge and judgment
  • Communication with patients
  • Ethical practice
A mild palm tremor at age 15 that only appears when holding still is nowhere near an obstacle to a medical career — including surgery if that's the goal.
Don't let it hold you back.
This is a shared conversation. Sign in to Orris to start your own chat.