Myoclonus is a condition involving rapid involuntary twitching of a muscle or group of muscles. Myoclonus may be a primary condition, meaning that it is not a symptom of another medical condition, or a secondary symptom of other conditions such as...
Twitches and jerks of the muscles, or myoclonus, can be distressing and uncomfortable. Myoclonus is described as a sudden, involuntary contraction of a muscle or a group of muscles, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says....
Muscle spasms refer to involuntary contractions that can lead to muscle cramping, according to MedlinePlus. Sometimes, these muscle spasms can be due to a neurological disorder affecting the brain and spinal cord. The causes of muscle spasms can...
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the nervous system characterized by progressive loss of coordinated voluntary and involuntary movement. Parkinson's disease symptoms vary over time, often overlapping with symptoms of other...
Fitting the general perception of what happens during a seizure episode, clonic seizures involve convulsions of the torso, arms and legs, as the muscles in these parts of the body undergo rapid cycles of contraction and relaxation. The repeated...
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is a rare and deadly brain disorder that currently has no cure. Unfortunately, the most reliable way to diagnose cases of CJD is through a brain biopsy, which can be extremely risky to the patient, and by autopsy. Since...
Middle ear infections hurt. They often cause children to awaken in the middle of the night, screaming in pain. Inflammation of the ear drum and pressure that stretches the drum are the cause of the pain caused by fluid from infection in the...
A clicking sound in your head when you run most likely results from tinnitus. Tinnitus is a symptom of other conditions such as hearing loss and jaw-joint disorders; it produces sounds such as ringing or clicking in your ears and head. Although...
Involuntary muscle spasms may take the form of minor twitches or larger limb jerks. The behavior goes by a number of names, including myoclonus, muscle fasciculation and benign muscle spasms. The muscle spasms may be a mere annoyance, or they may...
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, seizures are categorized according to whether the individual maintains consciousness, shows limb movements or experiences hallucinations. Illicit as well as prescribed drugs lower seizure threshold--the point...
You may remember fondly the days your abdomen moved in response to his hiccups. However, when your baby is born, it may be distressing to see him have hiccups, seemingly at random. Hiccups in infants are completely normal, states Healthy Children,...
Many people twitch, jerk, mumble or toss from side to side while sleeping. Jumping while asleep may be mild, moderate or severe and more often noted by a spouse or other sleeping partner instead of the sleeper, who usually remains blissfully...
One woman out of every three experiences restless legs syndrome, according to a 2009 survey in the "Journal of Women's Health." This neurological disorder involves uncontrolled limb movements persisting throughout sleep and wakefulness. Medical...
A person suffering from early-onset dementia shows symptoms of the dementia before the age of 65. Dementia is the term used to describe the symptoms of a large group of illnesses, which cause a progressive decline in a person's mental...
Since so little is known about Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and its causes, it's important to obtain a second or even third opinion for a proper diagnosis. The symptoms of this deadly brain disorder, which include rapid dementia,...
The nerve endings in the body naturally produce serotonin, a chemical that plays an important regulatory role in the brain. The level of serotonin in the body can affect many systems and bodily organs. Many drugs available on the market increase...
Absence seizures, also called petit mal seizures, last less than 15 seconds and are the result of abnormal electrical activity occurring in the brain. These types of seizures are common in children, and start between ages 4 and 12, according to...
Many different health problems, including depression and insomnia, have been linked to low levels of certain chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin. One way that many people use to treat these imbalances is by eating supplements that can be...
Demerol--known generically as meperidine--is a narcotic indicated for relief of moderate to severe pain, according to Hospira, Inc., the drug's manufacturer. Demerol injections can be given into a vein or a muscle. Demerol has unique properties...
Ringing in the ears, medically known as tinnitus, can be more than an annoyance. Tinnitus affects one out of five people, the Mayo Clinic states, and can seriously interfere with activities of daily living. Causes of tinnitus are many, and cures...
Dopamine is a naturally occurring chemical in the body that functions as a neurotransmitter and neurohormone. It primarily affects movement control, emotions and the pleasure and reward centers of the brain. It activates five dopamine receptors,...
Benzodiazepines are a class of psychoactive drugs with a wide range of therapeutic effects. These drugs work on the central nervous system and provide anxiolytic, hypnotic, muscle relaxant, anticonvulsant and amnesic actions. According to the U.S....
Myoclonic seizures present as jerking movements of a muscle or group of muscles. The rapid twitching alternates between contraction and relaxation of the muscle. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, myoclonic...
"Myo" stands for muscle, and "clonus" means rapid alternation between contractions and relaxation periods. Myoclonic seizure patients, therefore, usually experience fleeting muscle jerks or twitches. If you're having a myoclonic episode, you...
Electrolytes are essential for function of all the cells in your body. Low levels of potassium can cause neuromuscular problems that can manifest in a variety of ways. Potassium deficiencies may be involved in a condition known as periodic limb...
Antidepressants are used to treat many different conditions, including depression, panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. There are several classes of antidepressants, which differ in their effect on neurotransmitters. Some...
Imagine not being able to control the movements of your body. This is a situation many movement disorder patients face on a daily basis. Abnormal movement disorders are caused by a variety of neurological diseases that either inhibit movement or...
Early onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a diagnosis that occurs prior to the age of 65. While it can develop among people in their 30s and 40s, it is more common among those in their 50s. Early-onset Alzheimer's bears unique characteristics...
Normal child sleep habits, according to the University of Michigan Health System, include "cycles between light sleep and deep sleep." The cycles last for 50 to 60 minutes, allowing the possibility of waking during the light sleep periods....
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a condition in which your legs feel extremely uncomfortable while you're sitting or lying down. It makes you feel like getting up and moving around. When you do so, the unpleasant feeling of restless leg syndrome...
