What’s causing this eye twitch?

Q:

I’ve been having trouble sleeping, and a few weeks ago, my eye started twitching on and off throughout the day. I’m starting to think the two are related. What’s going on?

A:

You’re right—your symptoms are probably connected. The likely cause? A magnesium deficiency. The mineral helps regulate muscle and nerve function, and it can help you relax and sleep better. But as many as 80% of women are deficient in the mineral. Fortunately, it’s easy to shore up levels and put an end to your eye twitch and sleep problems.

First, try supplementing with

320 mg. of magnesium chloride daily. It’s an easily absorbed form of the mineral and should boost your blood levels enough to quickly stop the twitching. In fact, a Canadian study found that magnesium helps soothe the nerves that cause spasms in as little as 72 hours.

You can also try soaking your feet in warm water for 20 minutes before bed—a strategy that can help you sleep 123% more deeply, according to research in the Journal of Social Health. The warm water calms sensitive nerves in the feet, which then send signals to the brain to relax.

And you can boost that benefit by adding Epsom salts to the footbath since they’re loaded with magnesium that your body can absorb through your skin.

Finally, since excess caffeine can also trigger eyelid spasms and make symptoms worse, I suggest cutting back on caffeinated drinks like coffee or switching to decaffeinated varieties. But if the twitching continues for more than a week, your eyelid becomes swollen or droopy or if your eye completely closes when it twitches, visit your doctor for a thorough evaluation.