Muscle twitches, or fasciculations, are small involuntary contractions caused by stress, anxiety, fatigue, exercise, dehydration, poor diet, caffeine, or medication. They are usually benign and can be reduced by stretching, cutting out caffeine, and reducing stress. However, if they persist for more than a few days, they could indicate a nervous system disorder and require medical attention. Doctors can perform a physical exam and diagnostic tests to determine the cause and severity of prolonged muscle fasciculation.
A muscle twitch is a small involuntary contraction caused by a muscle or group of muscles. This minor but uncontrollable twitch is often visible under the skin’s surface and can feel like a small ripple. Many times, muscle twitches, also called fasciculations, are caused by stress and anxiety. This type of repetitive twitching typically occurs in areas such as the thumb, eyelid, and calf.
Also referred to as spasms, a variety of other factors can cause muscles to twitch, including fatigue, exercise, dehydration and poor diet. A muscle twitch can develop after ingesting too much caffeine. An adverse reaction to prescription medications, including estrogen, corticosteroids, and diuretics, can also cause muscle spasms. When a muscle twitch occurs due to any of these factors, it is considered benign or harmless and usually goes away within a few days. Benign muscle twitches are common and generally don’t require medical attention.
If a person suspects their spasms are caused by exercise, caffeine, or anxiety, there are several things they can try to reduce or eliminate them. He may want to stretch before and after a workout to relax his muscles. Cutting out high-caffeine beverages, such as soda and coffee, may also help. To reduce stress, she may want to take a yoga or meditation class. Getting a good night’s sleep can also help most people.
A muscle twitch that lasts more than a few days could indicate a more serious condition, including a disease or disorder of the nervous system. Diseases that cause muscle spasms include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease; muscular dystrophy; weak muscles or myopathy; and spinal muscular atrophy. A damaged nerve leading to a muscle can also produce a muscle contraction.
In addition to muscle twitching, symptoms that indicate a nervous disorder are weakness; decrease in muscle size; and changes in – or loss of – sensation. If you have long-term muscle twitching, a doctor may need to perform a physical exam to determine the cause. Your doctor may also take a medical history to help make an accurate diagnosis.
There are several questions a doctor can ask to help narrow down the cause of persistent muscle twitches. He may ask which muscles the contractions affect and if they usually occur in the same place. The doctor may want to know how long the contractions last and how often they occur, as well as when the patient first noticed them. Along with the medical history, many medical professionals use diagnostic tests to determine the cause and severity of prolonged muscle fasciculation.
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