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Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: neilep on 17/05/2004 21:44:46

Title: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: neilep on 17/05/2004 21:44:46: Dear Scientists,

Why do i ocassionally get muscle twitches ?...sometimes above an eye, sometimes in my leg and sometimes my pecs ?......don't misunderstand me....this is a rare occurence but is very noticeable when it happens...I can feel it lasting for 20 minutes or so.

Thanks

Neil

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Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: Rokitansky on 17/05/2004 22:30:35: There are many possible causes. Neurological damages, fatigue, parasites....

We need more informations. Probably depends from case to case.
Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: bezoar on 18/05/2004 03:02:20: In your case, I'd bet on fatigue.
Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: MayoFlyFarmer on 18/05/2004 06:30:01: could also be due to an ofset in your mineral balance (especuially Calcium)

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Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: Rokitansky on 18/05/2004 10:44:25: ... or Potassium (K) !!!!
Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: neilep on 18/05/2004 12:13:02: Well, I hope you're right about it not being parasites !!euuugghh !!..the fatigue, yes, I can totally understand and the mineral inbalance sounds interesting...what can I do to supplement that ?...Am I naive in thinking mineral water will help because I drink that all the time ? ...many thanks for you help.

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Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: nilmot on 18/05/2004 12:50:51: I think 'Mineral water' doesn't mean it contained a load of mineral. [:D] Usually traces are found in the water, it's probably that it's filtered by mineral.

The supplement thingy I suggest an advice from Donnah.

Tom
Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: neilep on 18/05/2004 14:26:20: quote:
Originally posted by nilmot

I think 'Mineral water' doesn't mean it contained a load of mineral. [:D] Usually traces are found in the water, it's probably that it's filtered by mineral.

The supplement thingy I suggest an advice from Donnah.

Tom

Thanks Tom...that's what I thought...ho hum !!...

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Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: Rokitansky on 18/05/2004 15:17:05: Drinking mineral water usualy isn`t part of solution [:(], although it may contain significant amounts of minerals ( depends of a particular brand).

Mineral balance disturbaces usualy include hormonal disorders, like hyper or hyposecretion of PTH chormon or aldosteron. The other possible causes include renal failure.
Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: neilep on 18/05/2004 15:57:48: Well that's really cheered me up !![:D]

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Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: Donnah on 18/05/2004 18:55:04: Justin and Rokit have it right. Calcium (and mag), potassium, or folic acid shortage in your system could cause twitches. You probably need to get up and have a good stretch more often too.
Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: OldMan on 19/05/2004 04:16:07: What about good old fashioned stress?

-----------------------------
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Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: neilep on 19/05/2004 11:58:42: I know it might come as a shock but I don't spend all my time here on the PC...I actually have a busy life, though,admittedly Donnah the days of when I used to play squash four times a week and go running are in the distant pass.....I most certainly could do with more exercise, so you're right a good stretch and more would do me good

.....with regards to the calcium, folic acid etc.....I'm going to change my lifestyle accordingly.....thanks for that.....

Tim......you're spot on !! (again) about the stress......I must try and learn to relax....in fact I should be having some specialist beahaivoural therapy shortly to assist me with that but more specifically to teach me how to sleep, and hopefully how to stay asleep when I do. *sigh* thank you all very much.

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Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: Ylide on 23/05/2004 07:09:47: Are you properly hydrated? Chronic mild dehydration can indeed cause muscle twitches as well as a host of mental and physical fatigue symptoms.

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Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: neilep on 23/05/2004 16:33:39: Thanks Jay....no...I'm well diluted. !!...drink plenty of water.....I've actually never given it any thought for all the years that I've had thesesporadic twitches like that.....I honestly thought it was a common occurrence so, perhaps I do have a mineral deficiency.......and of course there is the mental and physical fatigue which I presume must be the main candidate for suspicion...

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Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: Monox D. I-Fly on 08/09/2017 07:33:08: Quote from: neilep on 18/05/2004 12:13:02
Well, I hope you're right about it not being parasites !!euuugghh !!..the fatigue, yes, I can totally understand and the mineral inbalance sounds interesting...what can I do to supplement that ?...Am I naive in thinking mineral water will help because I drink that all the time ? ...many thanks for you help.

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I remember when the first time I had muscle twitch was during a flag ceremony in Middle School. It was right above my eye. Unfortunately, some days before I just learned about a worm which could cause filaria (spread by mosquitoes) and came out of people's skin. Being paranoid, I thought that I was already infected with that worm and it had moved through all its way to my eye. Being not able to handle the thought, I felt like I almost fainted. Luckily some times later I learned that muscle twitch is a common thing which happens to most people.
Title: Re: What causes muscles to twitch?
Post by: chris on 08/09/2017 08:00:02: One oft-neglected cause of muscle twitches is caffeine. This has an excitatory effect on the nervous system and can occasionally causes muscle twitches. Sleep deprivation, viral infections, certain drugs and stress are all factors alongside those mentioned above (especially electrolyte disturbance).