Understanding Essential Tremor: The Diagnosis Process and Treatment Options

The International Essential Tremor Foundation (IETF) will host a free seminar in Loma Linda, Calif. on the life-altering neurological condition called essential tremor (ET). The seminar will take place on Friday, Sept. 27, at the Centennial Complex–Chen Fong Conference Center, located at 24760 Stewart Street in Loma Linda. The program will run from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., with a question-and-answer session with the physicians directly following the presentation. More information, including driving directions and event registration, is available by phone (toll free) at 888-387-3667 or on the web at www.essentialtremor.org/seminars. Essential tremor patients, family members, caregivers, and health care providers are invited to attend this special, free, educational seminar. Local physicians Khashayar Dashtipour, MD, PhD and Karen Frei, MD, Movement Disorders Neurologists with Loma Linda University Medical Center, and Frank Hsu, MD a neurosurgeon with University of California–Irvine will discuss the diagnosis process for essential tremor, commonly prescribed medications, surgical options, current scientific research, support groups and more. Attendees will be provided with an essential tremor information packet to take home and share with friends, family and their own health care providers. Refreshments will be served and parking is free. “The IETF is dedicated to offering hope to those affected by essential tremor,” explains Catherine Rice, IETF executive director. “The Foundation actively works to generate greater awareness of the condition, fund critical scientific research in order to fully understand the causes of ET and offer support to those affected by this life-altering condition. At these seminars people will gain a better understanding of their condition and what options for treatment are available. Hopefully they will also realize, as they look around the room, that they are not alone in this condition; that there are millions all over the world affected, just like them.” ET, which affects nearly 10 million people in the U.S., is the most common neurological movement disorder, but is frequently misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease. The condition is often characterized by rhythmic, involuntary and uncontrollable shaking of the hands and arms during movement, making daily tasks such as eating, drinking and writing difficult if not impossible. Sometimes ET can also affect the head, voice, legs and trunk. At this time, there is no cure for essential tremor.