Twitching

Twitching

Template:Search infobox Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Twitching, in medical terminology, refers to a type of involuntary muscle contraction. A twitch differs from a reflex eye muscle contraction in that a twitch tends to be repetitive, unwanted, lacking obvious cause, and is not considered part of the normal operation of the body.

Causes

Among the chief causes of a twitch are:

• Anxiety
• Pinched nerve or other nerve injury
• Stimulant abuse
• Caffeine
• Parkinson's disease
• Epilepsy
• Fatigue
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• Benign fasciculation syndrome
• Stress

Twitching can also develop as a habitual behavior, being a sign of no specific disorder.

Because twitching may be a sign of serious illness, it is highly recommended that individuals experiencing prolonged twitching seek medical attention.

See also

• Fasciculation
• tic (a similar but more voluntary action)

References

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