Leg Cramping at Night
BySo what causes painful night leg cramps and what can be done about it?
The signs are unmistakeable: severe pain in the calf as the muscle suddenly contracts of its own accord so tightly that you can't do anything to shake it off, is a sure sign that you have the condition known as nighttime leg cramps. Not many people know this, but these night leg spasms can happen in the thigh area and in the feet as well.
The exact cause of leg cramps is not yet fully understood or agreed upon, however there are some common risk factors that it is believed can contribute towards this painful condition. You may need to feel your own way into which one applies to you and try a few remedies before finding one that does the trick.
Electrolyte imbalance is one of the main reasons, it is claimed, that night leg cramps occur. Elecrolytes can mainly be thought of as minerals such as sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium, that are generally depleted through excessive perspiration or other forms of dehydration. So in order for the muscles to function at their best all of these need to be in proper balance. If you ingest too much or too little of these salts in your diet then an imbalance can result and this is likely to affect muscle functioning and in turn lead to painful cramps. The phosphorous that is pumped into processed foods, if consumed regularly can lead to an imbalance of essential body salts and cause cramping so turning to a more natural or organic diet can reduce the likelihood of developing this debilitating condition. A good source of potassium in natural foods is of course, the humble banana.
Another possible cause of muscle spasms and cramps is exercise that is of a high intensity which is associated with muscle fatigue and consequently lower levels of calcium. nutrients supplied through a balanced diet and plenty of fluids will provide the enrgy needed to enable the muscles to function well and efficiently without cramping as they contract during exercise. It is believed that depleted calcium is involved in muscle fatigue so perhaps a diet aimed at restoring calcium levels would be a good idea for those who exercise regularly at this intensity.
During pregnancy, as the body is working extra hard too, along with the muscles, in holding up the increased weight as the baby grows, leg muscles can become very tired and start to cramp in the night, preventing a good night's sleep. A light supper before retiring for the night, using foods that contain potassium and calcium might be the cure that you need. It could be something as simple as a nightly routine of a banana and glass of milk, along with a little light leg stretching, before bedtime during the term of the pregnancy.
Other possible causes of or conditions that have been associated with night leg
cramps could include, alcoholism, cirrhosis, some medications (eg Statins, diuretics), hypothyroidism, kidney problems, some heart problems, Parkinson's and Addinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, flat feet, dehydration,diarrhea and gastric bypass surgery.
With so many potential contributors towards developing leg cramps at night, ahealth check with your local doctor or health advisor would be a good place to start, in order to make sure you and your night leg cramps have a proper diagnosis.
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