HOW TO PREVENT LEG CRAMPS AT NIGHT.
How Can You Prevent Night Cramps?
Do you ever go to sleep in your cozy bed after a hard day and wake up with unexpected and painful leg cramps? This phenomenon is called Nocturnal Leg Cramps and Dr. Lisa Shives, from the Northshore Sleep Medicine in Illinois, says it's actually a very normal and common thing.
Nocturnal leg cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions that occur during the night or during times of rest. The cramping sensation may last a few seconds or minutes, but the pain from the cramps may linger for a much longer period. Nocturnal leg camps tend to happen to middle-aged or older populations, but people of any age can have them.
The exact cause of nocturnal leg cramps is not known. Some cases can occur without a triggering event, while others may be linked to prolonged sitting, dehydration or structural disorders. Research shows that about one third of the population above the age of 60 suffers from these cramps, with 6% reporting that it happens every night.
Here are some of the things that may cause this painful problem according to Dr. Shives:
- Medical conditions such as blood disease, diabetes, and muscle disorders.
- Changes in the hormone state due to pregnancy and hormone pills.
- A lack of calcium or a low ability to retain it in the body due to low levels of vitamin D.
- Weak and loose muscles that don’t move during the day are more likely to cramp at night.
- Electrolyte imbalance caused by dehydration and not getting enough potassium and magnesium.
What can you do about it?
* Start by eating foods to have more potassium such as nuts, avocados, almonds and potatoes. Many people say that eating a banana before going to sleep prevents the cramps and the hard pains.
* Hot salt baths with Epsom salt for your feet will help relax your muscles and blood pressure.
* Get more exercises for your legs like evening walks and do some stretching before you go to sleep.
* Consider taking food supplements high on vitamin D, potassium and magnesium.
If none of these work and you still suffer from night cramps nearly every day then you should go see your doctor. more
Do you ever go to sleep in your cozy bed after a hard day and wake up with unexpected and painful leg cramps? This phenomenon is called Nocturnal Leg Cramps and Dr. Lisa Shives, from the Northshore Sleep Medicine in Illinois, says it's actually a very normal and common thing.
Nocturnal leg cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions that occur during the night or during times of rest. The cramping sensation may last a few seconds or minutes, but the pain from the cramps may linger for a much longer period. Nocturnal leg camps tend to happen to middle-aged or older populations, but people of any age can have them.
The exact cause of nocturnal leg cramps is not known. Some cases can occur without a triggering event, while others may be linked to prolonged sitting, dehydration or structural disorders. Research shows that about one third of the population above the age of 60 suffers from these cramps, with 6% reporting that it happens every night.
Here are some of the things that may cause this painful problem according to Dr. Shives:
- Medical conditions such as blood disease, diabetes, and muscle disorders.
- Changes in the hormone state due to pregnancy and hormone pills.
- A lack of calcium or a low ability to retain it in the body due to low levels of vitamin D.
- Weak and loose muscles that don’t move during the day are more likely to cramp at night.
- Electrolyte imbalance caused by dehydration and not getting enough potassium and magnesium.
What can you do about it?
* Start by eating foods to have more potassium such as nuts, avocados, almonds and potatoes. Many people say that eating a banana before going to sleep prevents the cramps and the hard pains.
* Hot salt baths with Epsom salt for your feet will help relax your muscles and blood pressure.
* Get more exercises for your legs like evening walks and do some stretching before you go to sleep.
* Consider taking food supplements high on vitamin D, potassium and magnesium.
If none of these work and you still suffer from night cramps nearly every day then you should go see your doctor. more
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If I am allowed to add here that in Homeopathy there are a couple of medicines which help muscular cramps viz. Cuprem Met and Magnesia Phos. Cuprem Met in 200 potency may be tried once a day at bed time for three days and give a gap of a week for the medicine to exhaust its force. Secondly, Magnesia phos in 6X (bio-chemic) can be taken at 4to 5 tabs twice/thrice a day and if the cramp is severe, 15 tabs can be dissolved in half a cup of hot water and taken two spoons at a time with a gap of ten minutes interval. This is absolutely a safe medicine and can be continued for long periods to prevent recurrence of the problem. I have used these medicines for my son long ago and with excellent results. more
Jun 19
Raja ji, Hats off to you for having remembered me having these cramps.I have tried all these supplements but unfortunately they have not worked. I have now started sleeping on a warm blanket(electric) and have not experienced the cramps.I think keeping the legs warm ensure adequate blood supply. I too received this mail but before I could posst it, aap baji maaar gaye.Regards more
Jun 19
Rajeshji. You mentioned some time back that you have these Leg Cramps. Normally it happens in Winters. Please read this post it may help you. You may Consider taking food supplements high on vitamin D, potassium and magnesium. Also in Winters try taking Hot Water Bottle. I also used to have Leg Cramps. But now following the above and Hot Water Bottle which I take it regularly because of Perepheral Neuropathy in the feet, I am not having Leg Cramps any more. Regards more
Jun 19
