Treatment For Muscle Twitching
Treatment usually isnt necessary for muscle twitching. The spasms tend to subside without treatment within a few days. However, you may need treatment if one of the more serious conditions is causing your muscle twitching. Depending on the particular diagnosis, your doctor may prescribe certain medications to ease symptoms. These drugs include:
- corticosteroids, such as betamethasone and prednisone
- muscle relaxants, such as carisoprodol and cyclobenzaprine
- neuromuscular blockers, such as incobotulinumtoxin A and rimabotulinumtoxin B
Muscle twitching isnt always preventable. However, there are some things you can do to lower your risk:
Dehydration Means Your Performance Is Reduced
Alcohol is a natural diuretic in laymans terms, it makes you pee more which is why you generally wake up gasping of thirst when youre hungover. Dehydration can affect everything from your energy, to your endurance, to your bodys core temperature, which is all bad news if you have a big game or a workout planned.
When youre dehydrated, your bodys stocks of electrolytes like magnesium, potassium and calcium are depleted. These are vitally important to the maintenance of fluid balance, muscle action and muscle coordination. Water-soluble vitamins like B6, B12 and Vitamin C are all depleted by dehydration too, making you more prone to illness and reducing your bodys ability to function at its best.
Attention wine-lovers: scientists have just unveiled the holy grail of facts about red wine. According to a study by scientists at the University of Alberta, consuming a glass of red wine has the same physical performance, heart function, and muscle strength benefits as working out for an hour at the gym.
The Surprising Side Effects Of Artificial Sweeteners
May 20, 2011
aretrySkeptical?I started having problems again,immediately. no amount of sweetener will not cause a reoccurrence of the problemNote: You WILL get used to the new taste in about two weeks. At first Stevia did not taste sweet at all, but after two weeks, the Sweet-n-low tasted bland and the Stevia tasted great. Give your taste buds a chance to adjust. :o)
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Treatment And Home Remedies
A balanced and varied diet can provide essential vitamins and minerals for muscle health.
The common causes of muscle twitching are easy to treat and prevent at home through lifestyle changes to keep the nerves and muscles healthy and functioning well. These lifestyle changes include:
- eating a more healthful, balanced diet
- taking dietary supplements to address deficiencies
- exercising moderately, with proper warmups and cooldowns
- reducing caffeine intake
- avoiding or managing stress with yoga, mindfulness, or meditation
- staying hydrated
If an underlying health condition is the reason for a personâs muscle twitches, the doctor will work with the individual on a treatment plan.
Could It Be Restless Leg Syndrome
Many people confuse nocturnal leg cramps with another condition known as restless leg syndrome, RLS. Like RLS, leg cramps most often occur at rest. The difference, however, is that leg cramps produce muscle tightening, cramping and pain. With RLS, youll experience a strange and unpleasant urge to move your legs in order to stop a feeling of discomfort, but there isnt usually pain associated with it.
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Bath Of Apple Cider Vinegar
Why to use:
Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may help provide pain relief to the neck, back, and shoulder joint pain . Warm water with vinegar will help to relax the muscles and relieve the cramps and pain. Some of the benefits are-
- Apple cider vinegar for leg cramps is very useful
- It is rich in calcium: It helps in the formation of bone mineral density and nervous system function.
- It has electrolytes in it as it contains magnesium in it.
- Vitamins: boosts blood flow through arteries making muscle cramps harder to form.
- Drinking apple cider vinegar is incredibly useful for the natural alleviation of leg cramps as it is rich in minerals.
How to use:
To prepare a vinegar bath:
- Fill a tub with warm water.
- Add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar.
- Stir the water.
Turn on the shower and rinse with or without soap.
How much to use:
After returning from the day-long hectic work schedule, in the evening, take this bath to feel relaxed.
Precaution:
Risk factors- Cramps are usually harmless but may sometimes involve medical symptoms and can cause significant medical disorder, such as Atherosclerosis.
Potassium May Help Too
Muscle cramps, muscle twitches and rapid heartbeats can all be a symptom of low potassium, notes Franziska Spritzler, low-carb dietitian and Diet Doctor nutrition expert. In her guide on electrolyte supplementation she notes that when salt is lost from the body at a higher rate due to low-carb eating, the kidneys may respond by increasing sodium absorption and excreting more potassium into the urine in an attempt to maintain biochemical balance.30
Increasing your consumption of high potassium foods like avocado, Swiss chard and spinach can often be all that is needed to increase your potassium levels.31 Most people can get adequate amounts of intake solely from the food they eat.
Potassium supplements can be taken, too, but there is a risk you can take too much. Most multivitamins have about 80 mg of potassium per pill, but you can buy potassium on its own. Supplement makers by FDA regulation, however, are not allowed to make formulations with more than 99 mg of potassium per pill that is why the pills are so tiny.32
As cardiologist Dr. Bret Scher notes, taking too much potassium can cause health issues, especially for those with kidney disease, such as potentially dangerous heart rhythms and skeletal muscle dysfunction. Common side effects of even small doses of potassium supplements are nausea and digestive upset.33
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Melons Are The Total Package
These fruits have it all: loads of potassium, a good amount of magnesium and calcium, a little sodium, and a lot of water. Sodium and water are key because as you exercise, your body flushes sodium out with your sweat. If you lose too much water, youâll get dehydrated, and muscle cramps may happen. Eating a cup of cubed cantaloupe after a workout can help.
Do Bcaas In Energy Drinks Help With Muscle Cramps
Yes, branched-chain amino acids do help with muscle cramps in certain individuals.
This study of 8 individuals with cirrhosis of the liver found that BCAA supplementation had a significant impact on the frequency of muscle cramps.
Healthline also notes that BCAAs can help reduce cramping for people with liver disease.
There isnt much information available online about the impact that BCAAs have on the frequency of cramping for individuals that dont have liver disease or cirrhosis. This is a potential area for further clinical trials and testing that I would certainly be watching with a keen eye.
If youre interested in conducting such a study, please contact me!
Another study in the journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness found that BCAAs dont improve athletic performance, but can help with muscle recovery and the immune system.
What all of this means is that BCAAs certainly help with cramps if you have cirrhosis of the liver, and they probably dont make cramps worse for you if you dont have liver problems, although more research is needed on that.
Interestingly, the minimum effective dose of BCAAs is 91mg per pound of body weight, per day .
This means that an adult male that weighs 175 pounds would need about 16,000mg of BCAAs to get the advertised benefits from taking them.
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More Tips For You To Deal With Menstrual Cramps
Does chocolate help cramps? You ask. Unfortunately, it does not, but there certainly are other foods and natural ways to deal with menstrual cramps. Here are a couple of things to try:
1. Apply Heat
You can apply heat to your lower abdomen to control menstrual cramps. Heat works because it relaxes the contracting uterine muscles. Here is what to do:
- Get a heating pad and place it over your lower abdomen. Be sure to apply heat until you feel better.
- Get a towel, soak it in water, wring out the excess water, and then put it in the microwave for a minute or two. Then place it directly on your lower abdomen. Repeat the same every few minutes until you feel better.
- Consider taking a hot shower to help control your menstrual cramps.
2. Do Moderate Exercise
Simply stretching your abdominal muscles may help deal with cramps. You can try certain yoga poses or opt for other fitness routines to improve blood circulation to your pelvic region. Even a short walk will do the trick. It is a good idea to do moderate exercise because it releases endorphins that make you feel good and relaxed.
Can You Get Leg Cramps At Night
Leg cramps at night happen when youre not very active, or when youre asleep. They may wake you up, make it harder for you to fall back asleep and leave you feeling sore all night. Yearly, monthly, weekly, nightly the frequency of leg cramps depends on the person. Nocturnal leg cramps can happen to anyone at any age, but they happen most often to older adults. Of people over age 60, 33% will have a leg cramp at night at least once every two months. Nearly every adult age 50 and older will have them at least one time. Seven percent of children will, as well. Approximately 40% of pregnant women will experience leg cramps at night. The reason behind that is thought to be that the extra weight of pregnancy strains the muscles.
Three-quarters of all reported leg cramps happen at night.
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When Should I See My Healthcare Provider About My Muscle Spasms
See your healthcare provider if the spasms are unbearably painful, happen frequently or last for a long time. Also, talk to your healthcare provider right away if you have the following symptoms in addition:
- Significant pain.
- Swelling or numbness in the leg.
- Changes in the skin of your leg.
- Waking up over and over again with leg cramps.
- If your leg cramps are stopping you from getting enough sleep.
- If you have fluid abnormalities or electrolyte imbalances that youre aware of.
See your healthcare provider immediately if youre concerned that your muscle spasms are a symptom of an underlying serious medical condition.
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Your Quality Of Sleep Is Impacted
Getting a good nights rest is vital for optimum sports performance, and when you drink alcohol your ability to get proper shut-eye plummets. Yes, you might drift off more easily, but research shows that alcohol reduces the amount of REM sleep, meaning youll wake up feeling drowsy and low in energy the next day. Alcohols effect on sleep can also inhibit your bodys production of human growth hormone , which is required for muscle building and repair.
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Nocturnal Leg Cramps Causes And Risk Factors
Experts donât know the exact cause of nighttime leg cramps. They could happen because your nerves send the wrong signals to your muscles. For example, your brain might mistakenly tell your leg to move while you dream. That confuses your calf muscles and causes them to contract.
Youâre more likely to have a leg cramp if you:
- Are 50 or older
- Work your muscles too much
- Sit too long without moving
- Donât drink enough water
- Stand too long on hard surfaces
Other health conditions can also raise your chances of leg cramps, including:
- Grab your toes and pull them toward you.
- Ice the cramp.
- Take a warm bath.
Your doctor might give you medications such as diltiazem , diphenhydramine , or verapamil . But they donât always work, and they can have harmful side effects. For example, experts used to use the anti-malaria drug quinine for leg cramps. Doctors and the FDA no longer recommend it because it can also cause severe bleeding and problems with your heart rhythm.
What Medicines May Help With Leg Cramps
At this time, there is no recommended medication that can prevent leg cramps 100% of the time. However, there are some prescription medications that show a little evidence of preventing leg cramps. Under your healthcare providers watchful eye, you might want to try the following:
- Carisoprodol : A muscle relaxant.
- Diltiazem : A calciuim-channel blocker.
- Orphenadrine : Treats muscle spasms and relieves pain and stiffness in muscles.
- Verapamil: A calciuim-channel blocker.
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This Might Just Be The Best News Ever
A study says that resveratrol, a natural compound found in red wine, can improve physical performance, muscle strength and help maintain a healthy heart.
Lead researcher, Jason Dyck, spoke to Science Daily about the findings:
We were excited when we saw that resveratrol showed results similar to what you would see from extensive endurance exercise training.
Researchers at the University of Alberta, Canada, found that resveratrol, also found in nuts and grapes, could potentially help people who want to exercise but find it difficult.
It is also likely to intensify the benefits of exercise for those who can only manage short bursts of strenuous activity.
I think resveratrol could help patient populations who want to exercise but are physically incapable. Resveratrol could mimic exercise for them or improve the benefits of the modest amount of exercise that they can do.
It is very satisfying to progress from basic research in a lab to testing in people, in a short period of time.
However, this only applies to one glass of wine and any more than that is likely to undo all the good work.
Oh and if you needed another reason to indulge in a glass of red this evening: it can help target acne, improve bone density, reduces cholesterol and apparently, it makes us look even better looking than usual.
This article was first published on Her.ie.
Curing Cramping Through Caffeine Regulation
There are many causes for cramps:
Heres how to track down your source, and how to prevent cramps from reoccurring.
I train hard everyday and maintain a clean diet, and still I suffer from the onset of cramps in my calves and stomach. They are painful, and worse then that when my muscles seize up my soccer game, skiing venture, or exercise bout is over.
Perhaps I wasnt getting enough water?
So I tried cutting out coffee for a month. If you are like me and drink a few cups a day, going cold-turkey will royally suck. I basically had flu-like symptoms for the whole weekend. Headaches I expected, but I literally felt ill for a few days. Well I recovered. It is well known that coffee is a diuretic, and so by eliminating coffee, I would increase intracellular water, and decrease cramping. Well such was my theory.
Cutting out coffee stopped my Cramping
Of course, that sucked because I love coffee. So I stayed off it, and I got far less cramps. However every now and then I would still get cramps the same cramps as before just not as often. Maybe, coffee wasnt the cause or maybe it was a catalyst my research continued.
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Coffee Affects Mineral Absorption
Drinking coffee may restrict your kidneys ability to retain magnesium, calcium, zinc and other important minerals.
Iron absorption in the stomach can also be heavily impaired if coffee is taken at the same time as an iron-rich meal. All of these minerals are required in the complex process of digestion at some point.
Reduction in the already hard to get magnesium is especially problematic as it is needed to prevent constipation and maintain bowel regularity. With constipation a common cause of smelly gas, this is yet another way coffee can make you fart.
Many people are deficient in essential magnesium but unfortunately it is very poorly absorbed in multivitamins and other supplements.
If you suspect are not getting enough magnesium , transdermal magnesium oil sprayed directly onto your skin after a shower can help replenish your bodys magnesium stores.
I have personally noticed a real reduction in muscle tension and an improvement in my energy levels since using it.
Common Causes That Are Usually Minor
Common causes of muscle twitching include the following:
- Twitching can occur after physical activity because lactic acid accumulates in the muscles used during exercise. It most often affects the arms, legs, and back.
- Muscle twitches caused by stress and anxiety are often called nervous ticks. They can affect any muscle in the body.
- Consuming too much caffeine and other stimulants can cause muscles in any part of the body to twitch.
- Deficiencies of certain nutrients can cause muscle spasms, particularly in the eyelids, calves, and hands. Common types of nutritional deficiencies include vitamin D, vitamin B, and calcium deficiencies.
- Dehydration can cause muscle contraction and twitching, especially in the bodys larger muscles. These include the legs, arms, and torso.
- The nicotine found in cigarettes and other tobacco products can cause muscle twitching, especially in the legs.
- Muscle spasms can occur in the eyelid or the area around the eye when the eyelid or the surface of the eye is irritated.
- Adverse reactions to certain drugs, including corticosteroids and estrogen pills, can trigger muscle spasms. The twitching may affect the hands, arms, or legs.
These common causes of muscle spasms are usually minor conditions that easily resolve. The twitching should subside after a couple of days.
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Do I Need To Have Any Testing Done To Diagnose My Leg Cramps
Blood, urine and other routine tests are not helpful in diagnosing leg cramps but they may help identify previously undiagnosed medical conditions that have leg cramps as a symptom. For example, your healthcare provider will likely perform typical tests such as taking your blood pressure, and that can reveal cardiac and vascular risks.