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)