Aa
BFS and hyperreflexia
Hi
Is hyperrefexia a symptom of BFS?
Also I noticed my twitching tends to be more"excited" when I am drifting off to sleep. I am curious in knowing what causes BFS? I am healthly 35 yr old male otherwise
Is hyperrefexia a symptom of BFS?
Also I noticed my twitching tends to be more"excited" when I am drifting off to sleep. I am curious in knowing what causes BFS? I am healthly 35 yr old male otherwise
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
It is true that Hyperreflexia is one of the symptoms of BFS and muscle twitching is more marked while falling off to sleep. The precise cause of BFS is unknown. BFS is thought to be slightly correlated to the body weight and height of a person and to the anxiety level, a history of regular strenuous exercise, Attention deficit disorder (or drugs used to treat it). People with essential tremor appear to have a greater chance of developing BFS. In addition, other genetic and environmental factors make the patient more susceptible to BFS. BFS can also be attributed to long term use of anticholinergics such as diphenhydramine. Magnesium Deficiency can cause both fasciculations and anxiety. Hope this helps you. Take care and regards!
It is true that Hyperreflexia is one of the symptoms of BFS and muscle twitching is more marked while falling off to sleep. The precise cause of BFS is unknown. BFS is thought to be slightly correlated to the body weight and height of a person and to the anxiety level, a history of regular strenuous exercise, Attention deficit disorder (or drugs used to treat it). People with essential tremor appear to have a greater chance of developing BFS. In addition, other genetic and environmental factors make the patient more susceptible to BFS. BFS can also be attributed to long term use of anticholinergics such as diphenhydramine. Magnesium Deficiency can cause both fasciculations and anxiety. Hope this helps you. Take care and regards!
Hi.
I am not familiar with BFS, however I do have hyperreflexia. In my particular situation the hyperreflexia is caused by compression/injury of my spinal cord. I can still walk and use my arms though I do have some challenges. Below is information that I pulled from the web site for the National Institutes of Health. I hope that it is helpful.
I wish you the best!
Autonomic hyperreflexia
Images
Central nervous system Autonomic hyperreflexia is a reaction of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system to overstimulation. This reaction may include high blood pressure, change in heart rate, skin color changes (paleness, redness, blue-grey skin color), and excessive sweating.
Causes
The most common cause of autonomic hyperreflexia is spinal cord injury. In this condition, types of stimulation that are tolerated by healthy people create an excessive response from the person's nervous system.
Other causes include medication side effects, use of illegal stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines, Guillain-Barre syndrome (a severe form of paralysis that can lead to respiratory failure), subarachnoid hemorrhage (a form of brain bleeding), severe head trauma, and other brain injuries.
The following conditions share many similar symptoms with autonomic hyperreflexia, but have a different cause:
Carcinoid syndrome -- a disease caused by abnormalities of hormone-producing cells in the lungs and the gut
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome -- a condition characterized by muscle stiffness, high fever, and drowsiness, which can be caused by some antipsychotic and anesthesia medications
Serotonin syndrome -- an abnormal release of serotonin, a brain chemical
Thyroid storm -- a condition caused by too much production of thyroid hormone
Symptoms
Symptoms can include any or all of the following:
Anxiety or apprehension (fear)
Bladder or bowel dysfunction
Blurry vision
Fever
Flushing (skin turning red)
Goose bumps
Heavy sweating
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Muscle spasm
Nasal congestion
Throbbing headache
Sometimes, despite a dangerous rise in blood pressure, there are no symptoms at all.
Exams and Tests
Dilated pupils
Flushed (red) skin above the level of the spinal cord injury
High blood pressure
Slow pulse or fast pulse
The doctor will do a complete neurological and medical examination. Patients must tell their doctor all medications they are currently taking and all medications they've taken in the past, to help determine which tests are necessary.
Tests may include:
Blood and urine tests
Brain pictures including head CT or MRI
EKG (measurement of the heart's electrical activity)
Lumbar puncture
Spine pictures, particularly MRI
Tilt-table testing (testing of blood pressure regulation as body position changes)
Toxicology screening (tests for any drugs, including medications, in the patient's bloodstream)
X-rays
Treatment
This condition is life-threatening, so it is important to quickly identify and treat the problem.
Proper treatment depends on the cause. If medications or drugs are causing the symptoms, those drugs must be stopped. Any underlying illness that is causing the symptoms needs to be treated. If a slowing of the heart rate is causing the symptoms, drugs called anticholinergics (such as atropine) may be used.
Very high blood pressure needs to be treated quickly but carefully because a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure is possible, and can also cause problems. Commonly used emergency drugs for high blood pressure include: nifedipine (Procardia), nitroglycerin, phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride (Dibenzyline), mecamylamine (Inversine), and diazoxide (Hyperstat).
A pacemaker may be required for certain unstable heart-related situations.
Outlook (Prognosis)
The outlook depends on the underlying cause. People with autonomic hyperreflexia due to medications usually recover when the medications that are causing the symptoms are stopped. When the condition is caused by other factors, recovery depends on the success of treating the underlying disease.
Possible Complications
Complications may occur as a result of side effects of medications. If the pulse rate drops severely, it can cause cardiac arrest.
Prolonged, severe high blood pressure may cause seizures, bleeding in the eyes, stroke, or death.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of autonomic hyperreflexia.
Prevention
Prevention of autonomic hyperreflexia includes avoiding medications that cause this condition or make it worse. In people with spinal cord injury, the following may also help prevent this complication:
Avoid letting the bladder become too full.
Keep pain levels low.
Practice proper bowel care to avoid stool impaction.
Practice proper skin care to avoid bedsores and skin infections.
References
Khastgir J, Drake MJ, Abrams P. Recognition and effective management of autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injuries. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2007;8:945-956.
Kirshblum SC, Priebe MM, Ho CH, Scelza WM, Chiodo AE, Wuermser LA. Spinal cord injury medicine: 3. Rehabilitation phase after acute spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2007;88:S62-S70.
Update Date: 5/29/2008
Updated by: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2009, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894
National Institutes of Health | Department of Health & Human Services Page last updated: 27 August 2009
I am not familiar with BFS, however I do have hyperreflexia. In my particular situation the hyperreflexia is caused by compression/injury of my spinal cord. I can still walk and use my arms though I do have some challenges. Below is information that I pulled from the web site for the National Institutes of Health. I hope that it is helpful.
I wish you the best!
Autonomic hyperreflexia
Images
Central nervous system Autonomic hyperreflexia is a reaction of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system to overstimulation. This reaction may include high blood pressure, change in heart rate, skin color changes (paleness, redness, blue-grey skin color), and excessive sweating.
Causes
The most common cause of autonomic hyperreflexia is spinal cord injury. In this condition, types of stimulation that are tolerated by healthy people create an excessive response from the person's nervous system.
Other causes include medication side effects, use of illegal stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines, Guillain-Barre syndrome (a severe form of paralysis that can lead to respiratory failure), subarachnoid hemorrhage (a form of brain bleeding), severe head trauma, and other brain injuries.
The following conditions share many similar symptoms with autonomic hyperreflexia, but have a different cause:
Carcinoid syndrome -- a disease caused by abnormalities of hormone-producing cells in the lungs and the gut
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome -- a condition characterized by muscle stiffness, high fever, and drowsiness, which can be caused by some antipsychotic and anesthesia medications
Serotonin syndrome -- an abnormal release of serotonin, a brain chemical
Thyroid storm -- a condition caused by too much production of thyroid hormone
Symptoms
Symptoms can include any or all of the following:
Anxiety or apprehension (fear)
Bladder or bowel dysfunction
Blurry vision
Fever
Flushing (skin turning red)
Goose bumps
Heavy sweating
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Muscle spasm
Nasal congestion
Throbbing headache
Sometimes, despite a dangerous rise in blood pressure, there are no symptoms at all.
Exams and Tests
Dilated pupils
Flushed (red) skin above the level of the spinal cord injury
High blood pressure
Slow pulse or fast pulse
The doctor will do a complete neurological and medical examination. Patients must tell their doctor all medications they are currently taking and all medications they've taken in the past, to help determine which tests are necessary.
Tests may include:
Blood and urine tests
Brain pictures including head CT or MRI
EKG (measurement of the heart's electrical activity)
Lumbar puncture
Spine pictures, particularly MRI
Tilt-table testing (testing of blood pressure regulation as body position changes)
Toxicology screening (tests for any drugs, including medications, in the patient's bloodstream)
X-rays
Treatment
This condition is life-threatening, so it is important to quickly identify and treat the problem.
Proper treatment depends on the cause. If medications or drugs are causing the symptoms, those drugs must be stopped. Any underlying illness that is causing the symptoms needs to be treated. If a slowing of the heart rate is causing the symptoms, drugs called anticholinergics (such as atropine) may be used.
Very high blood pressure needs to be treated quickly but carefully because a sudden and severe drop in blood pressure is possible, and can also cause problems. Commonly used emergency drugs for high blood pressure include: nifedipine (Procardia), nitroglycerin, phenoxybenzamine hydrochloride (Dibenzyline), mecamylamine (Inversine), and diazoxide (Hyperstat).
A pacemaker may be required for certain unstable heart-related situations.
Outlook (Prognosis)
The outlook depends on the underlying cause. People with autonomic hyperreflexia due to medications usually recover when the medications that are causing the symptoms are stopped. When the condition is caused by other factors, recovery depends on the success of treating the underlying disease.
Possible Complications
Complications may occur as a result of side effects of medications. If the pulse rate drops severely, it can cause cardiac arrest.
Prolonged, severe high blood pressure may cause seizures, bleeding in the eyes, stroke, or death.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of autonomic hyperreflexia.
Prevention
Prevention of autonomic hyperreflexia includes avoiding medications that cause this condition or make it worse. In people with spinal cord injury, the following may also help prevent this complication:
Avoid letting the bladder become too full.
Keep pain levels low.
Practice proper bowel care to avoid stool impaction.
Practice proper skin care to avoid bedsores and skin infections.
References
Khastgir J, Drake MJ, Abrams P. Recognition and effective management of autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord injuries. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2007;8:945-956.
Kirshblum SC, Priebe MM, Ho CH, Scelza WM, Chiodo AE, Wuermser LA. Spinal cord injury medicine: 3. Rehabilitation phase after acute spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2007;88:S62-S70.
Update Date: 5/29/2008
Updated by: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2009, A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894
National Institutes of Health | Department of Health & Human Services Page last updated: 27 August 2009
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