Why do my legs shake unconsciously when I sleep?

If your feet shake unconsciously when you sleep, it may be due to normal reasons. The so-called tremor refers to an involuntary rhythmic vibration of a part of the body, or the entire body. There are many causes, the most common of which is Parkinson's syndrome. In addition, brain diseases, cerebral ischemia, etc. may also cause this phenomenon. Some are physiological or caused by fatigue.

Why do my legs shake unconsciously when I sleep?

1. Primary city tremor is the most common type of tremor

It ranks second among motor system diseases, with an incidence of 0.4-0.9%. However, the incidence in the group over 60 years old is 4.6%. There are more males than females. Most essential tremors are mild and do not require medical treatment. The incidence of tremor in people over 50 years old is 14.5%, of which 3.05% are primary tremor, 9.52% are physiological tremor, 2.72% are Parkinson's disease tremor, and the tremor caused by cause is less than 0.2%. Primary tremor has a hereditary characteristic, and the magnetoencephalogram and electroencephalogram records clearly show that primary tremor is related to the ipsilateral cerebellar hemisphere and the contralateral thalamus and sensory motor area of ​​the cerebral cortex. The dorsal olivary nucleus-cerebellar-thalamic related nuclei in the brainstem are key to the formation of tremor.

2. Essential tremor can begin in childhood

It worsens after the age of 40, and the average age of onset is 35-45 years old. There may also be sporadic cases occurring at an advanced age. Most cluster tremors occur before the age of 65. They may also progress gradually, with frequent decreases and increases in the amplitude of the tremor. Postural tremor will develop into intentional tremor 3-30 years later. The severity of the disease depends on the severity of the intention tremor. In severe cases, the patient cannot live independently and has difficulty drinking water, eating, and writing. 25% of essential tremors require medication, and one-third of people give up work because of tremors. Most essential tremors may be accompanied by truncal ataxia, intention tremor of the hands, and even eye movement disorders, suggesting that there may be cerebellar dysfunction. If cerebellar ataxia is not exacerbated by the consumption of small amounts of alcohol, this may indicate the presence of cerebellar dysfunction. There may also be reduced executive function in the frontal lobes and mild personality changes. There is also an increased incidence of dementia, hearing loss, and loss of smell.