Why your hands shake after drinking: dangerous health consequences

Home>Articles>What causes and how to relieve alcoholic tremors?

Prolonged consumption of alcoholic beverages causes not only a hangover, but also neurological . The latter is explained by intoxication of the body, in which the body often stops following human commands. Therefore, against the background of heavy alcohol consumption, limb tremors , which is eliminated through a complex of various drugs.

What is tremor?

Tremor is understood as a type of hyperkinetic disorder of a local or generalized nature. This condition is manifested by trembling not only of the hands, but also of other parts of the body. Often, with chronic alcoholism, tremor increases in the morning or on an empty stomach. After eating or drinking alcohol, its intensity decreases until the symptom completely stops. This makes this property negative. The majority of alcoholics take advantage of this feature and, instead of stopping binge drinking or seeking medical help, drink alcohol in the morning or immediately after waking up.

Tremor has a wide frequency of manifestation. Tremors can develop either the next day after drinking alcohol or 5 or even 10 days later. In particularly severe cases, this condition occurs on the 3rd day after binge drinking and continues for two weeks, accompanied by panic attacks, anxiety, and convulsions.

When is medical help needed urgently?

Sometimes only a doctor can help get rid of limb tremors. Also, tremors may not always be caused by drinking alcohol. Therefore, if you are in doubt, simply seek advice from a specialist. In the following cases, an alcoholic needs urgent medical attention:

For pathologies of the thyroid gland;
If you take medications incorrectly;
With pronounced drug addiction;
For Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases;
With damage to the cerebellum;
In case of poisoning with toxic substances.

The specialist will conduct an examination and prescribe the treatment that suits the patient best. Also, only a doctor can help eliminate trembling of the limbs. A neurologist will explain how to get rid of tremors that are not caused by alcohol intoxication. However, if you are absolutely sure that trembling occurred as a result of drinking alcohol, then of course contact a narcologist. The doctor will conduct testing and diagnostics, examine the patient for other diseases and, based on the results of the analysis, will be able to select the most effective treatment.

myelopathy , i.e., damage to the spinal cord, can be observed In this case, longer and more complex treatment is required, which will be carried out under the supervision of several specialists. However, do not get upset ahead of time: modern medicine works wonders, the main thing is to seek help in time.

Cause of shaking hands

The cause of twitching in the hands or other parts of the body is the peculiarity of the body’s reaction to ethanol and its breakdown products. Alcohol changes the composition of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid in the body, which leads to a decrease in the degree of excitability of the spinal cord and brain. These processes reduce the production of neurotransmitters, which provokes depression of the central nervous system.

Damaged neurons cannot normally transmit signals to the cerebellum and ensure the relationship between the processes of excitation and inhibition. As a result, a person develops a feeling of chills , trembling throughout the body and coordination deteriorates. The situation can be worsened by disruption of the functioning of internal organs and blood vessels.

Shakes violently after drinking alcohol: why does this happen?

After a heavy drinking session in the morning, not only the upper limbs may tremble, but also a feeling of severe anxiety may arise - in medicine, such a condition is called tremor.

Alcohol tremors after drinking alcohol-containing drinks are the result of the effect of ethanol on the human body. The oxidation of ethyl alcohol contained in any strong drink saturates the blood and important organs with a dangerous substance - acetaldehyde. Its increased concentration affects both the brain and spinal cord, causing severe poisoning, trembling of the limbs, disorientation in space and hallucinations.

If the tremor is observed in the morning and disappears within 3-4 hours along with other signs of a hangover, then there is no need to worry too much. But if, after drinking alcohol, your whole body shakes and does not disappear throughout the day, while you have a low-grade fever and a splitting headache, then you need to contact a specialist. This condition may be a sign of severe alcohol poisoning or the development of an allergic reaction to the components of an ethanol-containing drink.

In addition to frequent drinking or binge drinking, a one-time intake of ethyl alcohol, contained in all alcoholic beverages, can also be a factor in the occurrence of tremor. This happens due to a person’s lack of habit of drinking alcohol, which leads to large tremors of a larger muscle group and a feeling of anxiety. Also, tremors and chills can occur not only due to drinking alcohol, but also due to severe fatigue, poisoning, Parkinson's disease or hypothermia. It is important to remember that drinking alcohol in these situations will only worsen an already deplorable situation.

Consequences of tremor

Tremor is a toxic lesion of the body with acute poisoning, which affects almost all organs and systems. In the absence of medical help, severe trembling often develops into convulsions and leads to partial or complete paralysis of the limbs. Most often, the shaking state acts as a manifestation of liver failure, and without drug treatment this will lead to serious consequences - cirrhosis, oncology, coma.

But, even if all organs are in order, twitching can spread not only to the hands, but also to other parts of the body, where it will appear even if you give up alcohol. Jerking can occur at rest and during anxiety, making it difficult for a person to write or hold a spoon. With long-term persistence, there is a risk of developing psychosis and depression. In especially severe cases, the musculoskeletal system fails, and the patient gradually degrades with a decrease in intellectual abilities.

Clinical features

Typical symptoms of the disease include:

alcoholic hand tremor, which in the relatively early stages of binge drinking appears when trying to keep the hands in an outstretched, tense state; subsequently, trembling can occur at rest;
unsteady, uncertain gait, dizziness, disorientation (especially in the dark);
alcoholic head tremor, with the shaking usually affecting the lower jaw, eyelids, and tip of the tongue;
severe chills and sweating.

As the disease progresses, the patient experiences difficulty even performing basic daily duties. It becomes difficult for him to get dressed or bring a filled cup or spoon to his mouth. Naturally, he is physically unable to engage in any professional activity.

Types of alcoholic tremors

By localization:

focal, affecting one strictly defined anatomical area (for example, hand, jaw, tongue, etc.);
segmental, when two or more adjacent parts of the body are involved in the pathological process;
hemitremor, which is unilateral;
generalized, spreading to the whole body.

According to the clinical picture:

postural, which appears when trying to maintain a certain position (and when changing body position, the trembling may disappear);
kinetic, which occurs during movement and intensifies when approaching the target;
kinesiospecific, developing only during certain actions (for example, writing, typing on a computer, etc.);
isometric, observed when trying to clench the hand into a fist or hold an object;
resting tremor, when the trembling persists even when the muscles relax.

How to reduce the occurrence of tremors?

It is impossible to get rid of trembling of the limbs during binge drinking, but if a person rarely drinks, then there are tips that will reduce the likelihood of negative symptoms.

The only solution to avoid hand tremors is to completely abstain from alcohol. But, if this scenario is not possible, then it is necessary to reduce the dose of alcoholic beverages. A generally harmless dosage is considered to be 1 serving or 14 grams of pure alcohol for women and 2 servings for men. For example, 350 ml of weak beer, 150 ml of classic wine or 40 ml of strong drink.

If reducing the dose is also not suitable, then it is recommended to adhere to a number of simple rules :

start drinking alcohol only after eating;
drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day;
include in your diet foods high in B vitamins, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the nervous system;
After drinking alcohol, you need to ensure yourself a full sleep, lasting at least 8–10 hours.

If the measures taken do not help and your hands are still shaking, you need to consult a doctor or help yourself using medications and other available treatment methods.

Over the phone, the doctor will collect a primary medical history, form a team, and inform you about the exact cost of the procedure and the time of arrival of the narcologist.

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Literature:

A manual on narcology for doctors and paramedics of primary medical care / A. A. Churkin, T. V. Klimenko. / Moscow ; Khanty-Mansiysk / Health and Society, 2006 (Cheboksary: IPK Chuvashia). — 173 p.
Tremor: pathogenesis, features of the clinical picture, treatment. Ivanova E.O. / Neurological journal. 2013
Tremor: classification, clinical characteristics. Govorova T.G. / Magazine Consilium Medicum 2021

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Do I need to see a doctor?

Binge drinking is a dangerous condition that leads to severe physiological disorders, and hand tremors are one of the manifestations that can signal possible pathologies. Therefore, no matter how insignificant this problem may seem, it definitely requires qualified medical care. Only a doctor can choose effective procedures and drugs to eliminate it. At a minimum, it is necessary to install an IV with a special composition aimed at removing toxins and restoring a person’s physical health. You will not be able to help yourself on your own, without the involvement of a narcologist.

To avoid complications, it is better to go to a drug treatment clinic, where they will provide comprehensive assistance. Only a doctor will be able to conduct a detailed examination and, in addition to the standard drip for binge drinking, select the medications necessary to correct the current situation. To relieve the symptoms of binge drinking, the following drugs are additionally prescribed:

anticonvulsants;
sedatives or sedatives;
normalizing blood pressure;
systematizing the work of the gastrointestinal tract;
improving the functioning of the nervous system, heart and liver;
diuretics;
enzymes;
complex of vitamins.

Depending on the situation, treatment can be carried out at home, but in particularly difficult cases, it is necessary to hospitalize a person with alcohol dependence in a hospital and place them in an intensive care unit or intensive care unit.

Doctor who checked the article: Afanasyev Stepan Erofeevich Update date: October 1, 2021

Diagnostic methods

If trembling occurs in your hands, you should consult a doctor. You can get it at home or in a clinic. The examination procedure is as follows:

Interview of the patient or his relatives.
Patient examination.
Identification of chronic pathologies that determine the risk of complications.
Neurological testing.
Instrumental examination.
Neuroimaging to assess cerebellar function.
Computed tomography to determine the degree of dilation of the ventricles of the brain in order to exclude hydrocephalus. The condition may develop due to atrophy of nervous tissue.

It is possible that under the influence of alcohol changes will begin in the spinal cord. Neurological tests and tests will help identify myelopathy. For example, a standing position with arms outstretched and eyes closed. The appearance of instability confirms damage to the cerebellar tissue.

After excluding other causes of tremor in the fingers, treatment methods are selected. If the patient is in serious condition and, in addition to trembling, there are disturbances in the functioning of the heart, assistance should be provided urgently without wasting time on a full examination of the patient.

Treatment at home

Methods such as special gymnastics, a cool bath (water temperature about 30°C), a contrast shower (with a difference in amplitude temperature values of no more than 5°C), and taking infusions based on medicinal plants will help eliminate hand tremors after heavy drinking. Water procedures help to quickly relieve tremors after heavy drinking; actions such as taking enterosorbents (activated carbon, Enterosgel) help remove toxins from the body. Exercises to help stop shaking:

Exercise 1. Intensely rub your palms together until a feeling of warmth appears. Rub your palms for 3-5 minutes.
Exercise 2. Perform any movements with your arms using a weight. For example, pick up dumbbells, raise your upper limbs or spread them to the sides.
Exercise 3. Clench your hands into a fist and unclench them. Do the exercise with increasing acceleration at least 40-50 times.

To get rid of hand tremors from a hangover, you can take a drug such as Glycine. This simplest proteinogenic (participates in the biosynthesis of proteins) amino acid is a nootropic agent, improves the energy status of neurons, stimulates the processes of synaptic transmission of nerve impulses, and stabilizes the functions of cell membranes.

Glycine has a calming, antidepressant effect, eliminates the feeling of psycho-emotional stress, reduces symptoms of alcohol withdrawal (hangover), including helping to relieve shaking hands. Eating foods such as chocolate, bananas, carrots, kiwi, and citrus fruits will help you get rid of the shaky hangover after a binge.

The substances caffeine and theobromine contained in chocolate relieve vascular spasm, which helps improve cerebral blood flow. Caffeine and theobromine weaken the effect of alcohol on the central nervous system, which leads to a rapid regression of hangover symptoms. Bananas and kiwis contain potassium, an electrolyte that is the basic element of the sodium-potassium pump, which transports substances across cell membranes.

Normalization of transport leads to restoration of cell energy levels, improvement of brain function and overall well-being. Potassium is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses and the regulation of muscle contractions, which makes it important in relieving tremors. Healthy drinks that will help calm trembling limbs:

Fermented milk products - ayran, kefir, tan, yogurt.
Mineral water of the Borjomi type.
Green tea with the addition of mint, ginger, lemon balm, honey.
Cabbage, cucumber pickle.
Natural juices diluted with water in a 1 to 1 ratio.

From the editor: Large hemispheres of the human brain

To combat tremor at home, you can take medications such as No-Shpa and Spazmalgon. Medicines eliminate spasms of the smooth muscles lining the vascular walls, stimulating cerebral blood flow. Increasing blood supply to brain tissue leads to the elimination of painful sensations in the head area, acceleration of cellular metabolism and improvement of well-being in patients who are in a state of hangover.

Treatment at home for hand tremors that occur after taking and then quitting alcohol requires proper rest. Long, restful sleep will help relieve symptoms of withdrawal symptoms and calm trembling in shaking limbs. If you cannot sleep against the background of psycho-emotional arousal, you can take sedatives - Persen, Novo-Passit, Motherwort tincture or Valerian root.

You can relieve tremors after drinking with the help of infusions prepared from medicinal plants, such as sage, cudweed, heather, motherwort, and valerian. To prepare the infusion, take 10 g of dried leaves, pour 1 glass of boiling water, leave for 30-60 minutes, filter. The home remedy has a calming effect on the nervous system.

Hand tremors occur after taking a large dose of alcohol or after stopping alcohol in a state of withdrawal (hangover). Trembling of the upper limbs is a symptom of chronic alcoholism, which is constantly observed in patients who abuse alcohol. Treatment for alcoholism will help you get rid of hand tremors. Special exercises and folk methods will eliminate tremors that appear against the background of withdrawal symptoms.

Large and small tremors during binge drinking or hangovers

Often the condition is accompanied by a common symptom. First of all, it is trembling in the limbs. Fine tremors occur after a single dose of alcohol, when the drunkard exceeds the dose of alcohol. This is how the nervous system reacts to ethanol intoxication.

Large tremors usually occur throughout the entire body. Tremor affects the arms, legs, head, and torso. Even the eyeballs twitch, and this phenomenon is typical for chronic alcoholics who have been drinking for years.

Shaking usually causes panic and fear in an alcoholic. After an attack, a person can tell that he was not just shaking, but pounding. After removing ethanol products from the body and relieving the syndrome, the patient feels better.