I almost fainted while walking. So I took my blood pressure, pulse and blood sugar and everything was completely normal. I feel so weak though. My breathing is a little off as well, what can this be?
Anxiety. We all become trembly if we are angry, stressed, anxious (‘shaking with nerves’) or very tired.
Low blood sugar causes shakiness because the nerves and muscles are deprived of fuel. The adrenaline system responds by kicking in, and this can make the shakiness worse for a while. The circumstances will make it obvious if this is what is happening in your case. A low blood sugar is most likely to occur if you eat a lot of sugary snack foods; these raise the blood sugar sharply, but then it plummets down again. The answer is to eat more slowly digested carbohydrates, such as porridge for breakfast instead of a sweet cereal and fruit instead of sweet puddings. Low blood sugar can also occur after excessive exercise.
Too much coffee and tea can make you a bit shaky, particularly in combination with a low blood sugar. So cut down the amount of coffee or strong tea that you drink, and avoid snack ‘meals’ that are mainly sweet foods and lots of coffee.
‘Essential tremor’ is one of the most common types of shakiness. Instead of contracting at random, the tiny muscle fibres contract and relax together (‘synchronization’), resulting in more noticeable movements. (In medicine, the word ‘essential’ has a special meaning – it is used to describe a condition that is not caused by any other medical condition or disease, but simply exists on its own.)
Essential tremor is unusual in young people, but affects 1 in 20 of the population over the age of 40.
It tends to run in families, so some of your close relatives may also have it.
It usually affects the hands, often the head, and sometimes the voice and other parts of the body as well.
It becomes worse when you use your hands to do something, such as picking up a small object, or if you try to maintain a position, such as holding a cup steady. If you rest your hands quietly on your lap, the shaking usually stops.
It is uncontrollable and does not mean you are ‘nervy’ or ‘neurotic’ (although, frustratingly, it becomes worse when you are anxious).
An alcoholic drink often improves it, but obviously you should not overdo this remedy.
If the shaking is really troublesome, your doctor can prescribe a drug such as a beta-blocker or primidone. Avoid too much coffee and strong tea.