An involuntary contraction or spasm of a muscle in the leg or foot can lead to leg cramps.
Leg Cramps – Causes and Cures
Leg cramps usually occur at night or after an exercise session or from exertion. This can even lead to lactic-acid buildup.
You should try to flex your toes to ease a cramp. Breathing deeply and relaxing at the same time also helps to give relief from leg cramps. As oxygen is taken through the muscles the cramp releases and you can slowly massage the leg. You should try massaging toward the heart so that you drain the lymph. This will also help in the increased circulation and blood flow to the muscles.
Deficiencies in B-complex vitamins are the main cause for leg cramps. Pain in the muscles or joints can be attributed to lack of vitamin-C. You should eat nutritionally balanced foods, such as spinach and other green leafy vegetables having sufficient amounts of these nutrients to get relief from this condition. Or take specially prepared supplements.
Chamomile tea with fresh ginger is another excellent remedy. Chamomile helps in relieving cramps by acting as a sedative for the nerves. It is also high in calcium, magnesium, and other trace minerals. Ginger helps in increased blood circulation and brings warmth to the body. You should be cautious and increase your calcium intake. By adding sufficient amount of yoghurt, milk in your diet every day, you can avoid leg cramps. You can also opt for other calcium fortified foods in your diet.
If the problem of leg cramps that you suffer has nothing to do with nutrition, you should consult a nutritionist, or a trainer who would help you gain fitness or conditioning that will help you to root out the problem. Or apply approriate muscle cramp relief medications.
Muscle cramps can also occur among athletes especially when they are dehydrated. You must increase salty foods after exercise as that would help retain fluids and prevent dehydration. You must drink water in proportion to the amount you sweat when you exercise. You should also practice other relaxation techniques and avoid sitting in the same posture for a long time. Sitting for long hours in front of the computer or TV can also lead to leg cramps.
It is essential to have small breaks between working hours and eat the right food that will help you guard against this problem. If all the above said recommendations fail to work and if leg cramps still persist you must consult a health care professional to rule out any other serious problem. And you can also make use of popular cramp and pain relief treatments
Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. We aim to be as accurate as possible, but there may be some unintentional omission of information. The content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on within this article.
Author: Tom Chuong
He used to run marathons, especially when he lived in Indianapolis, and took quinine pills to quell calf cramps that once led us both to finish ne fef ar last in a 20-miler on Martha’s Vineyard. We stuck together, no matter what
Vitamins and Herbal Nutritional Supplements
Hyland’s Leg Cramps with Quinine is a traditional homeopathic formula for the relief of symptoms of cramps and Discomforts in lower back and legs often made worse by damp weather. Working without contraindications or side effects
I have a lot of leg cramps. Almost every night. They could hit anywhere from my toes to my thighs and jolt me out of a sound sleep in agony. I used to take Quinine Sulphate pills and they worked in minutes, like magic.
