Twitching of the thumb
Thumb twitches are characterized by involuntary, not consciously controllable, sudden contraction of the thumb muscles. This can include a thumb movement. In addition, a tingling and burning sensation in the thumb may accompany the movement.
The twitching can be pronounced to varying degrees. The phenomenon can be permanent or temporary. The causes can be manifold.
For example, a magnesium deficiency, psychological or physical stress, side effects of medication and the effect of stimulants such as caffeine can cause a thumb twitch. In addition, thyroid dysfunction can trigger the twitching. More rarely, diseases such as Parkinson’s syndrome, amytropic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or multiple sclerosis (MS) are responsible for this.Often the thumb twitch is harmless.
Twitching when falling asleep
Twitching when falling asleep are jerky movements that occur in many people shortly before sleep begins. They are also called hypnagogic twitches and have no disease value. It mainly affects the muscles of the arms and legs, as well as the trunk muscles.
Many affected people describe seeing bright lightning or having the feeling of falling. About 70% of Germans report having experienced such twitches when falling asleep or regularly experiencing them. Even though the subject has been dealt with intensively, no clear cause for the involuntary movements has yet been found.
Most likely, the changes in brain activity during the transition from waking to sleeping are responsible for the phenomenon. The Formatio reticularis is a center in the brain which, among other things, controls movement sequences and is responsible for the inhibition of the muscles during the sleep phase. Otherwise, we would actually perform the movements we dream of and probably injure ourselves during sleep. It is assumed that it is precisely this center that leads to the hypnagogic twitches in the activation phase.
Twitching in sleep
Untypical behavior during sleep is called parasomnia. These include twitching during sleep, which in the majority of cases has no disease value and does not affect the person affected. Only when the sleep is disturbed by these behaviors, a problem arises for the patient.
A constant awakening by uncontrollable muscle movements can lead to difficulties in falling and staying asleep. As a result, the body lacks the recovery phase, which can have a negative effect on physical and mental abilities. Concentration suffers from sleep deprivation, which can affect working and social life.
In addition to the diseases that can also lead to twitching during the waking phase, there are other clinical pictures that cause the patient difficulties, especially in the evening and at night, for example restless leg syndrome. Stress factors also play an important role. They not only impair the quality of sleep, but also lead to muscle twitches due to the hyperexcitability of the nervous system. Drugs and alcohol can also lead to unpleasant twitches or cramps, especially when consumed excessively, which are particularly noticeable during rest.
