Are you suffering from muscle twitching or myopathy? Do you want to know the exact cause? Well, muscle twitching has a lot of causes including heavy exercise, improper diet or sleep, and many more. One of those causes is hypothyroidism.
So, What is Hypothyroidism Muscle Twitching? Are Hypothyroidism and Muscle Twitching interrelated?
Yes, Muscular weakness, myopathy, or muscle twitching may be due to the dysfunction or lack of thyroid hormones. The underproduction of thyroid hormones can cause muscle twitching and muscle atrophy. So, if you’re suffering from muscle twitching, hypothyroidism might be among one of the causes.
In this article, you will get to know about what hypothyroidism is and how it relates to muscle twitching. Also, you will get to know about the proper treatment for muscle twitching due to hypothyroidism. So, let’s find out the facts.
When there isn’t enough production of thyroid hormones, the muscle becomes weak and you suffer from muscle twitching as a result of hypothyroidism.
Table of Content
What is Hypothyroidism?
If I speak in layman’s terminology, you have a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. This is called the thyroid gland. This gland is responsible for the production of two important hormones. These hormones are thyroxine and Triiodothyronine. The under production of these hormones is called hypothyroidism.
The main functions of thyroid hormones relate to Metabolism, movement, and mentation. So, the dysfunction of these hormones will lead the these functions.
Causes
The only cause of hypothyroidism is low iodine intake in your diet. As iodine is responsible for the formation of thyroid hormones, low iodine intake will lead to the underproduction of these hormones. So, Can thyroid issues cause muscle twitching? Yes, hypothyroidism can further lead to many problems including hypothyroid myopathy or muscle twitching.
Signs & symptoms
When there is an underproduction of thyroid hormones, it can lead to a lot of diseases. A common question about hypothyroidism is, Is muscle twitching a sign of hypothyroidism? Yes, The patients suffering from hypothyroidism present the following signs and symptoms.
- Muscle Twitching and Myalgias
- Constipation
- Joint pain or Arthralgia
- Weakness
- Muscle Cramps
- Goiter
- Delayed deep tendon reflexes
All these symptoms indicate movement dysfunction as well as a slow metabolism. That is due to disturbance in the functioning of thyroid hormones.
Hypothyroidism Muscle Twitching
70 percent of the population suffering from hypothyroidism ask a question: can thyroid issues cause muscle twitching? Yes, muscle twitching is among one of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism.
The most common places where you can observe muscle twitching are the lower eyelids and legs. You may also feel muscle twitching in your feet, arms, and lower abdomen.
If we talk about the effects of thyroid hormones on muscle, the main function of thyroid hormones is proper body movements. When there isn’t enough production of thyroid hormones, the muscle becomes weak and you suffer from muscle twitching as a result of hypothyroidism.
You can also suffer from thyroid restless leg syndrome. It is an irresistible urge to move the leg. It also occurs due to the underproduction of thyroid hormones.
Hypothyroid Myopathy
Hypothyroid myopathy is the muscular pain that is caused due to hypothyroidism. So, why does hypothyroidism cause muscle pain? Myopathy or muscular pain due to hypothyroidism can have the following causes.
- Change of fast contracting muscle fibers into slow contracting fibers
- Accumulation of lactic acid in muscles
- Deposition of glycosaminoglycan
- Poor contractility of actin and myosin units
- Low ATP production
- Low activity of myosin ATPase enzyme
All of these can lead to muscle weakness and muscle pain. And hypothyroidism is one of the root causes of these problems.
Hypothyroid Myopathy Symptoms
Hypothyroid Myopathy is the term for general muscle pain and weakness. Following are the symptoms of hypothyroid myopathy or muscle twitching.
- Sudden Contraction of muscles
- Muscle Fasciculations
- Tingling or itching sensations in muscles
- Burning or Throbbing pain in muscles
These symptoms are common due to loss of function of the thyroid. Also, there might be other symptoms of myopathy such as fatigue, or weight gain in some individuals.
Hypothyroid Myopathy Diagnosis
As hypothyroidism is the main cause of hypothyroid myopathy. So the main goal is to diagnose hypothyroidism. For this purpose, the lab technologist measures your thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH and Thyroid hormones T4 levels in the blood.
Another important laboratory finding in the patient with hypothyroid myopathy is the increase in the level of enzyme Creatine Kinases.
Hypothyroid Myopathy Treatment
The main goal for treating hypothyroidism and muscle twitching or Hypothyroid Myopathy is the production of thyroid hormones. So, taking a thyroid tablet is the only solution for hypothyroidism.
The patient must take a thyroid tablet early in the morning with an empty stomach. Thyroid tablets contain thyroxine which is a synthetic form of thyroid hormones. Do not stop the medication until your doctor says to do so. Sometimes patients have to take lifelong medication for thyroid.
Precautions
Do not eat anything for at least an hour after taking a thyroid tablet. Also, if you’re taking supplements like calcium, iron, or any antacids, take them an hour after taking thyroid tablets. Always consult your doctor before starting medication for hypothyroidism.
How to Prevent Hypothyroidism and Muscle Twitching?
Although, the treatment is the only way to live healthy with hypothyroidism. However, as prevention is better than cure, one must be careful about following a healthy lifestyle to avoid hypothyroidism.
Prevention of a certain illness always constitutes some healthy tips and tricks that can save a person from illness. To prevent hypothyroidism and muscle twitching, you must follow the following guidelines.
- Drink more water to stay hydrated. This will help your body to perform its functions properly by boosting your metabolism.
- Eat healthy foods, along with proper vitamins, minerals, and salt intake to help balance your hormones.
- Cut down on the stimulants such as caffeine to avoid the hyperactivity of your brain and body.
- Try to add salt with iodine to your diet to fulfill your iodine deficiency.
- Quit smoking and alcohol consumption as it can aggravate the condition of certain diseases.
- Stretching and massaging your muscles will help treat the muscle atrophy and will strengthen your muscles.
- Exercise properly and lift weights to increase your muscle mass.
- Get enough rest so that your muscles get time to recover from the fatigue.
These healthy tips will not only help you avoid hypothyroidism but will also keep you healthy and active. Also, following a healthy lifestyle can boost your immunity.
FAQs
Question: Can thyroid problems cause muscle twitching?
Yes, thyroid problems can be the main reason for muscle twitching. This is because if thyroid hormones are not produced in our body in an adequate amount, it can lead to muscle weakness and hence muscle twitching
Question: Can Hashimoto’s cause muscle twitch?
Hashimoto’s autoimmune disorder is an autoimmune diseases that may cause an underactive thyroid. Muscle Twitching is one of the common symptoms of Hashimoto’s disease.
Question: How does hypothyroidism affect muscles?
Hypothyroidism can affect muscles in such a way that it can cause muscle weakness and fatigue. Sometimes hypothyroidism can also cause severe myopathy, muscle Fasciculations, and twitching. Hence, hypothyroidism has very bad effects on muscle activity.
Bottom Line
Hypothyroidism and muscle twitching are the common concerns of people facing certain bad health conditions regarding muscles. When there is not enough production of thyroid hormones, it weakens the muscles and disturbs the muscles functioning.
To treat this condition, one must take proper medication along with a healthy diet. Diet rich in iodine can be good to treat muscle twitching resulting from hypothyroidism.
