My left thumb has been twitching for about three weeks – should I bother seeing a GP?
EXPERT advice from Dr Zoe Williams, our resident specialist and NHS GP
Q) MY left thumb has been twitching for about three weeks.
It’s a trapped-nerve sort of twitch and you can visibly see it.
Should I bother seeing a GP?
A) This type of twitching that you describe is quite common and usually nothing to worry about.
The thumb is a common place for a twitch to occur, as is the eyebrow, and can result from activity in nerves connected to your thumb muscles, stimulating them and causing the twitching.
Possible causes are fatigue, dehydration, salt imbalances in the blood, stress or excess caffeine consumption.
More rarely, there are neurological conditions that can cause twitching of the thumb so if symptoms persist beyond a few weeks, or are associated with other unusual symptoms, then further examination is a good next step.
HEALTH TIP
DON’T do much exercise? Then start off with a plank once a day.
It strengthens multiple muscles, can help alleviate and prevent joint pain and is also good for blood pressure.
Lie face down on the floor, then come up on to your toes and forearms, holding the rest of your body off the ground.
Squeeze the stomach muscles.
Keep your body straight and rigid and your shoulders down, not by your ears.
See how long you can hold it for – even if just five seconds.
Over time, you will gain the strength to hold it for longer.
E-mail Dr Zoe: Health@thesun.co.uk