Body Spasms
Causes of Muscle and Body Spasms
Body spasms, whether they are random or recurring, can be a scary ordeal. The causes behind muscle and whole-body spasms range from very minor to quite serious, which can often cause us to dream up all sorts of “worst case scenarios” in our mind or to ignore signs that may suggest something serious is at work. For the sake of having an idea of what possible afflictions could be at work, we are going to talk about three causes behind muscle and body spasms. We will also describe any additional symptoms that may show up in each circumstance.
One of the leading causes of muscle and body spasms is actually a nutritional deficiency. People who do not obtain the correct balance of nutrients through their diet, or who are extremely active but do not replenish their vital nutrients regularly can experience mild to severe cramps and spasms throughout the body. Everyday body movement requires the use of a certain amount of minerals and vitamins, such as Vitamin C, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. When the body becomes very low on these nutrients, simply muscular movement can become not so simple anymore!
An overabundance of one or more vitamins or minerals could also cause spasms or cramps. For instance, an overabundance of calcium could lead to random minor muscle spasms. In a case such as this, the most effective treatment is to counter the high calcium content with an acidic nutrient such as Vitamin C. A drastic loss of electrolytes and salt through sweat, vomiting, or diarrhea is another very common cause behind spasms. Dehydration or a lack in other nutrients can produce a wealth of varying symptoms. A person’s urine is likely to smell foul and darken in color when dehydrated, the skin may appear grey or transparent, and one’s hair and nails may also dull. All of these are just a few possible signs that may suggest a nutrient deficiency is at hand.
Another very common cause behind muscle and body spasms is anxiety. It is normal for the average person to exceed their threshold for stress every once in a while, but to do so on a regular basis can have a huge (negative) effect on a person’s body. The good news is that this type of muscular twitching is referred to as “benign”, which means that it is not a permanent condition and will not progress onto anything serious or long lasting on its own.
So, how does added stress or anxiety have such a strange effect on the body? One accepted theory (which makes the most sense, to my mind) is that in the days when our ancestors had a much harder life to live, they had to be ready for anything. Imagine how anxious you would feel if you and a couple of buddies had to go hunt down a saber toothed tiger using a rocks and spears? You’d probably be on your toes, right? Especially during our earlier history, we didn’t only have to worry about hunting, but also about being hunted by beasts much larger than us! It is believed that the anxious, “always-on-their-toes” lifestyle of our ancestors is ingrained into us even in present day to the point that our muscles involuntarily react to anxiety in the same manner it would have in prehistoric times.
The last condition we are going to talk about is called epilepsy. Epilepsy is more likely to cause full body spasms rather than twitches or cramps in solitary areas of the body. Epilepsy is actually a disorder that affects the brain. A person with this condition will have abnormal brain cells that spark electrical currents that result in a seizure. During the seizure, a person may experience jerking of the whole body, uncontrollable movements, and they may even pass out. Muscle spasms are not always present during an epileptic seizure, though. Some seizures occur where a person merely “stares into space” or experiences a period of confusion. One seizure does not constitute a valid diagnosis of epilepsy, however recurring seizures or multiple testing for epilepsy can be a solid basis of diagnosis.
These conditions are just a few of the possibilities that could produce body spasms. If you have experienced a single instance of muscle spasms, or if they happen very infrequently, it is likely that the cause is superficial and not long lasting. However, if you find that your muscle spasms are quite severe or if they occur quite often, you may want to consider seeing your doctor for an evaluation.