Tremor Chat

Have you ever considered Deep Brain Stimulation? That question threw me for a loop this past week during my most recent Neurologist appointment.  I have been asked this question by a handful of people but I hadn’t paid much thought to it until this week Deep brain stimulation. DBS. Brain Surgery. Drilling into my brain.  “A Brain Pacemaker.” Neurostimulator. Neurosurgeon. Electrodes. Just a very small handful of the thoughts running through my brain over this past week. The definition of Deep Brain Stimulation is a neurosurgical procedure involving the placement of a medical device called a neurostimulator (often referred to as a brain pacemaker) which sends electrical impulses, through implanted electrodes, to a specific targets in the brain for the treatment of various movement disorders.  Heavy stuff, right? Average female in their mid/late twenties isn’t weighing the Pros and Cons of brain surgery.  But hey, I am definitely not someone ...

M ore than 200,000 people are diagnosed with Essential Tremors each year. Essential Tremor, also known as ET, has no known cause yet is the most common movement disorder. ET is distinct from but often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, although some patients do have both conditions.  ET and Parkinson’s patients can both benefit positively by the integration of physical activity into their daily routines.     I recently came across a research study that studied the effects of strength training on individuals with Essential Tremors.  Their goal was to see if when ET patients incorporated just a seemingly minimal amount of training into their weekly routine, could it help their symptoms of essential tremor?’ These symptoms they defined as dexterity and reduction of their tremor . The exercises included bicep curls, wrists flex and wrist extensions.  All done with dumbbells and on both the most affected and least affected limb. Th...

Fad diets have been around for years, from the Atkins diet to high protein diets to liquid diets to the grapefruit diet.   There are ways to determine if a diet is going to be a fad or not.   Ask yourself if the diet promises quick weight loss, does it seem good to be true, does the diet help sell a company’s product or lack scientific research?   If the answer is “yes” to any of the above, it’s most likely a fad.   Issues with fad diets are poor long-term weight control (which let’s face it, that is the primary reason to begin a diet), increased risk of chronic diseases, and reduced athletic performance. Now to introduce another diet, I am about to give you some insight and research as to why I feel it is not a fad diet.   The Ketogenic Diet ( keto ) is a very low-carb, high-fat diet that shares many similarities with Atkins or other low carb diets.   It involves drastically reducing your carb ...

What are Essential Oils? Essential oils my newest life saver.  I can’t remember the last time I went an extended amount time without pain but I recently invested in Young Living’s Essential Oils and I can honestly say I physically  feel  a difference.  Essential oils  are  natural  oils typically obtained by distillation; in my good friend Rachel’s words, “its basically Plant Juice.” I recently attended an Oils Party and I can honestly say that one rainy afternoon has truly altered my life. Now my aunt has tried her hardest for years to get me into oils, she gave me oils for headaches, for pain, for concentration; as the saying goes, “there is an oil for everything.”  I would try the oil but I wouldn’t truly incorporate it into everyday routine. To feel an actual difference, like with anything in life, you have to be consistent and make it a lifestyle.  I am so grateful that I have now given Essentials oils a ...

My sister celebrated the end of her 20's by competing with our father in a power-lifting meet.  I decided to celebrate my sister by giving her a giant Unicorn balloon, a card with singing Minions and interviwing her for my first Video Blog.  My sister and I have been through our fair share of trials and tribulations but there is no doubt in my mind; my sister is my best friend.  We do not choose our families but if I could choose I would choose mine hands down.   Raquel, also known as: Raqui, Rocky, selfie queen, #1 stylist, sauce queen, salsa dancing queen, most likely to be found in the gym or on the dancefloor, and well the list could just go on… is just better known to me as my sister.    When I came to my sister just a few days before filming this we were brainstorming  that  night.    I am so excited to be presenting to you my first video blog, it is the first of many to come Happy belated Birthday! Yo...

                Let’s jump into someone else’s shoes.  We have met Tony.  Now let’s meet Ms. Courtney Noel! She began noticing her tremor right after she had her daughter in 2011.  She was diagnosed with Essential Tremor at 20.  Her right hand would shake when she would try to hold a heavy glass of water but she could still take notes in school. Now seven years later, both of her hands shake when she holds them up and carrying anything heavy makes it  much  worse.  She can also sense a tremor in her legs as she walks down steps.  In the beginning she felt it was being weak, but now she is realizing the connection to her ET. Courtney was always aware of what Essential Tremor was because it is very prominent in her family. This is a common occurrence; there is a strong genetic component when it comes to Essential Tremor.  Courtney’s mother, one sister, a few female c...