Diseases With Muscle Spasms and Dizziness


 by Martin Hughes

Many diseases can cause both muscle spasms and dizziness or vertigo. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or NIH, muscle spasms are involuntary muscle contractions that can manifest in any muscle in the body.

Many diseases can cause both muscle spasms and dizziness or vertigo. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or NIH, muscle spasms are involuntary muscle contractions that can manifest in any muscle in the body. The NIH reports that dizziness involves the sensation of lightheadedness, while vertigo is the feeling that objects around a person are spinning. When the two symptoms occur together, this may suggest the presence of an underlying disease or condition.

Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease is a disease associated with both muscle spasms and dizziness. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or NINDS, a division of the National Institutes of Health, Parkinson's disease is a motor system disorder that leads to the loss of dopamine-generating brain cells. Parkinson's disease is characterized by four primary symptoms: tremors or muscle spasms in the hands, arms, legs jaw and face; stiff limbs and trunk; slow movements and postural instability. The Merck Manual website states that Parkinson's disease can cause a person to feel unsteady, even though his muscle strength may be normal, and that loss of balance is a type of dizziness. Other common signs and symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease include depression, constipation, sleep problems, skin problems and difficulty chewing, swallowing and speaking. Currently, there is no cure for Parkinson's disease.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is another disease associated with both muscle spasms and dizziness. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society or NMSS, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting people who have recently been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, notes that multiple sclerosis is a chronic, often debilitating autoimmune disease that targets a person's central nervous system or CNS, which consists of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.

Common symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis include spasticity or involuntary muscle spasms; dizziness and vertigo; fatigue, numbness, bowel and bladder dysfunction; vision problems and depression, among others. The NMSS states that multiple sclerosis symptoms range from mild to severe, and that the progression and severity of the disease varies from person to person. Although there is still no cure for multiple sclerosis, treatments are available that help modify the disease's course and manage symptoms.

Lead Poisoning

According to the Mayo Clinic website, lead poisoning occurs when lead accumulates in the body. Although it only takes small amounts of lead to cause significant health problems, it may take months or even years for lead accumulation to reach dangerous levels. The Mayo Clinic website notes that young children, especially children six years old and younger, are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning which can cause impairment in a child's mental and physical development. If enough lead accumulates in the body, lead poisoning can be fatal. Along with muscle spasms and dizziness, other symptoms associated with lead poisoning include headaches, abdominal pain, memory loss, mood disorders, fatigue, decreased sperm count in men; and pain, numbness or tingling in the extremities.

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