Muscle Twitching: That’s The Reason
Twitching in the eye or in the leg? Muscle twitching can have various causes. You can find out what they are and what you can do here.
Muscle twitching: That’s what’s behind
Muscle twitches are involuntary movements of muscle bundles (very small muscle groups), which are sometimes visible under the skin, but do not have a movement effect. These twitches are also called fasciculations. They often occur in the muscles of the extremities or in the face, i.e. the arms and legs or the eyes, and are usually painless.
Possible causes
Muscle twitching can have various causes. Muscle twitching can occur in the following conditions:
- Epilepsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Tourette’s syndrome
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Parkinson’s disease (shaking paralysis)
- Alzheimer
- Brain Tumours
- Cerebral hemorrhages
- Circulatory disorders
- Pinched and irritated nerves
- Viral diseases and bacterial infections
This symptom is not always associated with serious illness. Often the muscle twitches are over after a short time. Reasons can also be:
- Mental stress and strain
- Drugs
- Alcohol
- Coffee
- Magnesium deficiency
- Overexertion
- Hypoglycemia
- Certain drugs
You can do that
If there is a neurological disease, the doctor will prescribe an appropriate therapy. Physiotherapy, physiotherapy or psychotherapy can be helpful in this regard. If no serious illness is the cause, you can do some things yourself to get rid of the annoying twitches.
- Relaxation methods such as autogenic training, but also sports or yoga help against stress and overexertion.
- Consume sufficient magnesium: Our body needs magnesium for nerves and muscles. However, it cannot produce it itself, so we have to take it in through our food. You can cover your needs with common foods such as whole grain products, green vegetables and nuts.
- Avoid alcohol, drugs and coffee: Alcohol is not good for the body, but poison for the nerves – this is certainly not news. If you have problems with muscle twitching, it is best to avoid alcohol altogether. Coffee (too much) can also be unhealthy, as it can disturb the circulation and inhibit the absorption of vitamins and minerals.
- Make sure you lead a healthy lifestyle: Eat and drink enough and exercise regularly. Sport, for example, not only helps against stress, but also contributes to a general feeling of well-being.
Muscle twitching when falling asleep
Have you ever had to twitch when you fell asleep? There is a harmless explanation for this: the part of the brain responsible for movement is still active, while the muscles are already flaccid. The signals are erroneously still sent to the slack muscles – the twitching occurs.
When to see the doctor?
As already mentioned, the cause is often harmless. However, if muscle twitching occurs frequently, a doctor should be consulted as a precaution. Even if other symptoms occur. Since neurological diseases are often hidden behind them, a visit to a neurologist is recommended.
Do you have problems with a twitching eye in particular? You can find out what else could be the cause in the article on eye twitching. Tip: If you feel constantly stressed, try these 7 tips for reducing stress.