What is benign essential tremor?

Essential tremor, as it is often called, is a neurological disorder that causes a rhythmic tremor, or shaking, defines Mayo Clinic. The disorder most often affects the hands but can occur almost anywhere in the body, including the head, arms, legs or larynx.

Essential tremor is not dangerous, but it can become severe in some people, states Mayo Clinic. The shaking may be confused with Parkinson's disease, and it can develop at any age. It arises most often in people 40 and older.

The cause of essential tremor is not understood, but it is believed that the thalamus processes the abnormal electrical brain activity responsible for it, explains WebMD. The thalamus controls and coordinates muscle movement.