What exactly are night leg cramps?
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 night leg cramps. Not many people know, but these night leg spasms can happen in the thigh area and in the feet as well.
The exact reason why a leg cramp occurs is unknown. One theory purports that cramping occurs when a muscle that is already contracted is stimulated to contract even further.There are other suggestions too. With a little experimentation, some dietary adjustment and the support of your local health practitioner, it shouldn’t be long before you find a remedy that works for you.
Electrolyte function is an important component of muscle health and if they are out of balance painful leg cramping is very likely to 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 the quantity of these essential salts is a little too much or is not enough to maintain proper muscle functioning, severe leg and foot night cramps could be the result. Muscle cramps at night have also been associated with high levels of phosphorous which is usually found in large quantities in processed food, quick snack foods and soda. Reducing the quantity of processed meats, fizzy drinks and snack foods that you consume can go a long way to addressing the problem. A good example of a natural source of potassium that is easily available is the 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. A lot of energy is needed to support the muscles in constantly contracting during the exercise and this requires a diet rich in appropriate nutrients. A drain on calcium reserves is believed to lead to muscle fatigue and increae the risk of cramping, so including extra calcium in the diet along with vitamin and mineral supplements , at this stage might be a good preventative measure and help to avoid muscle fatigue.
Along with pregnancy comes extra demands on the body needing extra nutrients and care. for example, as the baby grows it adds weight to the whole body and the leg muscles need to work a. 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.
There are a number of potential reasons given for cramps and, as a list, causes of
cramps and muscle spasms include type 2 diabetes, not enough fluids in the body, cirrhosis of the liver, kidney failure, flat feet, the side effects of some prescribed medications, peripheral artery disease, Parkinson’s disease, an underactive thyroid, Addison’s disease, dehydration and diarrhea, and as a side effect of surgery such as a gastric bypass.
In the light of there being such a variety of potential factors involved in what causes leg cramps at night, a good place to start for anyone wanting to obtain relief from regular and severe night leg cramps would be to consult your doctor to get a proper diagnosis.
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
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you suffer from fibromylagia symptoms, spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss
I take it before my Smooth Move and it eliminates my cramping by 90-100%. I used to lose so much sleep from cramps at night from the tea. It made the cleanse very difficult for me. The peppermint tea allows me to sleep through the night
