What Causes Leg Cramps

Find Out About What Causes Leg Cramps

If you have ever had them you probably have wondered what causes leg cramps and especially in the case that you  play sports or are frequently hitting the gym. To give you a better idea of what leg cramps are, these are actually sudden contraction of the muscles on your legs that are painful when they are triggered. Leg cramps are sometimes referred to as “Charley Horse” and it hits three prime areas in your legs which are your calf’s, hamstrings and quadriceps. Leg cramps can go on for about a minute or more depending on the severity of the cramp. Some experience leg cramps while they are sleeping as well which causes sleep intrusion.

What causes leg cramps then?

Lack of proper hydration is one of the leading causes of this particular problem. If you do not drink a lot of water within the day, the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that your body needs cannot be transported throughout your body hence leg cramps. Another possible source of leg cramps is lack of proper minerals such as magnesium, calcium and potassium. Muscle fatigue, heavy exercising, imbalance of electrolytes, and medications are also possible culprits of leg cramps. If you want to avoid experiencing leg cramps make sure that you drink plenty of water and avoid straining your muscles too much.

Here Is a brief video of what causes leg cramps

Now that you have a better idea on what causes leg cramps, it is about time that you learn how to treat this problem. If you are not drinking a lot of water then it is about time that you change this behavior. You should start increasing your water intake to fully replenish the liquid inside your body so you won’t trigger leg cramps while walking, standing or even sleeping. You can even try using ice packs to slow down the triggers that lead to muscle cramps. Another step to take for you to combat leg cramps is to change your diet into one that is filled with the proper vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Include foods that are high in calcium and potassium to boost muscle strength.

Other possible treatments include massaging the area that is commonly hit by leg cramps. Heat compress can also alleviate the symptoms of leg cramps easily if massaging didn’t remove the pain. If the pain and the contractions still persist, you should visit your doctor to determine whether there are any other possible causes for these leg cramps. Depending on the diagnosis of the doctor, you will be given certain medications so you can start treating the pain and the cramps that often occur. This way, you will be able to relieve yourself of any problems in your legs so you can enjoy the usual things that you love without having to worry about leg cramps from being triggered.

Learn all there is to know the causes behind leg cramps so you can prevent them from happening in the first place. It is about time that you alleviate the symptoms as soon as possible so you can start enjoying your days and nights even more. Now that you know what causes leg cramps you can say goodbye to all the pains and aches by drinking water and eating right.

What Causes Leg Cramps at Night

If you are experiencing leg cramps at night, they probably wake you up from a deep, restful sleep. They can be very painful like a charlie horse, though fleeting, and sometimes feel as though they just won’t go away. It is possible that several different causes of leg cramps. Aside from any possible medical condition, like a blood clot or atherosclerosis issues, or possibly even an exacerbated spider vein, it could be from increased physical activity, pregnancy, a change in medications, or dehydration.

No matter what is causing your leg cramps at night, you want a way to stop them as fast as possible. The best form of treatment, though, is prevention instead of a cure. Start by increasing your water intake. Muscle cramping is much more common in people who lack enough water. You also need to increase your potassium, which may be found in bananas or spinach. By increasing your intake of both water and potassium, you allow your muscles to relax more easily at the end of a day.

In the case of pregnancy, Vericose veins, or just a long day standing on your feet, you can try placing your legs up a wall, like sitting in reverse. This is actually a yoga pose, so you can look it up to see what it looks like. Essentially, you lie on your back with your buttocks as close to a wall as you can get them, and then let your feet rest against the wall. Having your heart below your legs in this way really helps to let old stagnant blood drain down from the legs and back to the heart to be re-oxygenated. It helps tremendously with swollen and cramping lower extremities.

What Else Causes Leg Cramps at Night?

Another thing that can cause leg cramps at night is diabetes or an artery disease. Other causes can be metabolic in nature, such as Hypothyroidism or even failing kidneys. If you try increasing water, and potassium as well as elevating your legs above the heart, and your leg cramps don’t go away, you should consult your doctor to make sure there are no other health concerns. Sometimes it is not a health concern but a hormonal issue, such as when you are pregnant, taking birth control pills or blood pressure medications.

Gentle exercise can be very beneficial if your leg cramps are not caused by excess physicality. Try going for an evening walk or swimming if you have joint problems. This can be a great relief for a stiff sore body, and helps to move blood through the pelvis and legs, decreasing leg cramping. Also try bathing in a warm bath before sleeping at night and add Epson or chamomile, to help soothe worn out or swollen extremities. Above all things, be gentle with yourself and do visit a doctor if your leg cramps return after trying the things listed herein. They are more than likely just fatigued or dehydrated muscles, but it is better to rule out any other health conditions if your leg cramps at night persist.

Pregnancy Leg Cramps – Some Tips for Moms-to-Be

Pregnancy leg cramps are just one of the many ‘joys’ of becoming a mother. Though you may be looking forward to being a mother, and seeing that little boy or girl’s face for the first time, the extra weight, fatigue and other symptoms like cramps during pregnancy can make you wish you could mate more like fish rather than people, and lay your eggs in a bubble instead of growing your baby in your own belly. Ha, ha, if only it were that simple, right?

Since we don’t have the luxury of determining how to grow a new human being, we may experience side effects of pregnancy, like leg cramping, especially in the later trimesters. As a pregnancy progresses, our legs and feet are often swollen due to the extra weight we are carrying as well as the pressure that our swollen belly and uterus can put on the arteries and veins in the legs and hips. Although swelling cannot be avoided completely, there are several things you can do to help ease muscle cramping while you are pregnant.

Try These Tips to Stop Pregnancy Leg Cramps:

1) Join a prenatal yoga class the minute you find out you are expecting, and if you already take yoga, don’t quit. Just find a class that teaches pregnant women or a teacher who is familiar with contraindicated poses during each stage of your pregnancy. Stretching your muscles can do a world of good for your tired and aching muscles, and also alleviate some mood swings that come with the hormonal surges of pregnancy.
2) Drink more water. A well-hydrated body is less likely to experience muscle cramping.
3) Although it is not yet proven, there is some evidence pointing to calcium and magnesium depletion being partially responsible for leg cramping. Ask you doctor or doula if it is o.k. to take a supplement.
Enjoy prenatal massage. Getting a massage is even more important when you are pregnant. Your bones are shifting in your hips, and your muscles may be fatigued from going through so many physical changes in such a short time. Not only can massage help to alleviate muscle cramping, there are studies proving that the happiness of the mother leads to the healthiness of the child. Happy Mom = Happy and Healthy Baby.
4) Soak in a warm, not hot, bath.Try to sleep on your left side to encourage blood flow through the body.
5) Try flexing and pointing your toes or walking around if you get a leg cramp or ‘charlie horse’ as they are sometimes called. This can ease the tension in the muscles.

If none of these things work, and your pregnancy leg cramps just don’t go away or are more than intermittent, then seek the professional advice of a medical doctor. He/she will likely diagnose you and then offer the appropriate treatment. These should however relieve the cramps in most cases, so give them a try; you’ve nothing to lose – except those pregnancy leg cramps of course.