What do frequent muscle spasms mean

Overexercising, dehydration, and stress are the most common causes. The spasms happen when the muscle suddenly moves involuntarily. Muscle spasms may feel like a slight twitch or a painful cramp, and they can occur in the muscles in any part of the body. Muscle spasms can last just a few seconds or up to several minutes, but they tend to go away on their own without any treatment. Gently stretching or massaging the affected area or using a heat or ice pack may help.

Sometimes, muscle spasms can be a sign of an underlying health condition. Anyone who suffers from frequent or severe muscle spasms should speak to a doctor. Read this article in Spanish.

Enthesitis is a condition in which the sites where tendons and ligaments attach to the bones become inflamed. Learn more about its causes and…. This article looks at the different types of myopathy, their symptoms and treatments, and the outlook for people with these muscle disorders. Elbow pain can occur when lifting an object for several reasons, including tennis elbow and trapped nerves.

Learn more about some causes and…. Many factors, such as muscle strain and bruising, and more rarely, a heart attack, can cause pain in the middle of the bicep.

Learn more here. Why do muscle spasms happen? Medically reviewed by Angela M. Causes Symptoms Treatment Prevention Seeing a doctor Summary A muscle spasm is a sudden, involuntary movement in one or more muscles.

Share on Pinterest. When to see a doctor. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. No matter how large or how small they are, muscle spasms can be quite painful and even when they go away, may leave soreness or injury behind.

Muscle spasms can even occur internally, such as with an overactive bladder, which can involve the muscles of the bladder spasming spontaneously and causing leakage. There are many different things that can cause a muscle spasm.

Most of these causes are not serious, although they may require some action on your part to prevent them from happening again and to correct any injury or pain that resulted. Some of the factors that may lead to a muscle spasm include:. Pseudoephedrine Sudafed , albuterol usually found in inhalers for people with asthma , and the stimulant Adderall can all cause muscle spasms.

Stress and fatigue. Overuse of a muscle. Anything from strenuous exercise, to holding a position for a long time, or even performing manual labor can over-exert your muscles and lead to a spasm. Electrolyte imbalances. Along with the right amount of electrolytes, your muscles need adequate hydration to work properly.

Improper body mechanics. Pregnancy and childbirth. Pregnancy can lead to muscle cramping, especially in the legs, and after giving birth, a weakened core may make you more prone to back spasms as you do things like lift, bend, and twist. Underlying physical problems. Spinal conditions, such as degenerative disc disease , spinal stenosis , or a herniated disc can all lead a muscle spasm in your back.

The twitches are painless and harmless, but they may bother you. Magnesium deficiency, also known as hypomagnesemia, is an often overlooked health problem. This article lists 7 symptoms of magnesium deficiency. Is your lip twitching? This odd sensation of your lip shaking or trembling can be annoying.

It can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition…. The vagus nerve is the longest of the 12 cranial nerves. Here, learn about its anatomy, functions, and the kinds of health problems that can occur. Parosmia is term used to describe health conditions that distort your sense of smell. If you have parosmia, you may experience a loss of scent….

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention What are muscle twitches? Causes of muscle twitching. Diagnosing the cause of muscle twitching. Treatment for muscle twitching. Preventing muscle twitching. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M. Hemifacial Spasm. Eyelid Twitch. Understanding Lip Twitching. Medically reviewed by Elaine K. Luo, M.