According to Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia, muscle twitches result from minor contractions in the affected muscle or small contractions in the nerve fiber or filament of a particular muscle group. Muscle twitches are usually harmless, but can interfere with daily life or be a symptom of a more serious condition if twitching is severe. In order to get rid of muscle twitches, it is important to identify the source of the twitching and implement proper treatment methods.
How to Get rid of Muscle Twitches
Identify the source of your muscle twitches. Muscle twitches can be caused by a number of factors such as stress or anxiety; exercise; too much caffeine; adverse reactions to prescription drugs such as estrogen, cortisol or diuretics; diet deficiencies; or nervous system disorders. In order to treat and stop your muscle twitches, it's important to pinpoint what is causing the twitching.
Be sure to stretch before and after a workout. Exercise is often the culprit in muscle twitches. Runners should also walk 5 to 10 minutes before and after a workout in order to reduce the possibility of annoying muscle twitches. Massaging the affected muscle can also help relieve twitching.
Stop, change or adapt behavior that is causing muscle twitches. If stress and/or anxiety is the cause of your muscle twitches, try relaxing activities such as deep breathing, meditation or yoga every morning and when twitches occur. Controlling stress and anxiety levels can stop or, at least, significantly reduce twitching.
If your muscle twitches are due too excessive caffeine, reduce or stop your coffee or soda intake to see if muscle twitches decrease. If a prescription drug is causing twitches, ask your doctor how to avoid or reduce twitching side effects or ask for an alternative medication. Diet deficiencies, particular vitamin B and iron deficiencies, can also cause muscle twitches. Make sure to eat a balanced diet and take a daily vitamin supplement. Muscle twitches should stop once proper nutrition is restored.
Contact your doctor if muscle twitches are severe and/or don't stop with any of the above treatments. Muscle twitches usually require no treatment and disappear on their own, but if severe, your doctor can prescribe muscle relaxants that should stop or, at least, significantly reduce muscle twitches.
Be aware that muscle twitches can also be a symptom of a more serious nervous or muscular system disorder. If muscle twitches are severe, don't respond to treatment or last more than two weeks, contact your doctor, as twitching can be a symptom of various nervous and muscular disorders such as Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), fibromyalgia, spinal muscular atrophy, myopathy (muscle weakness) nerve damage or muscular dystrophy.
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Writer Bio
Jisel Perilla works as a writer mental health counselor in the Washington, D.C area. She has written and contributed to several Frommer's Travel Guides, as well for a variety of culture, health and entertainment publications. She majored in English and minored in Spanish at the University of Mary Washington in Frederickburg, Va., and has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa.
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