Causes of leg cramps

Leg cramp

Almost every person on the planet has suffered at least once from a leg cramp. This happens when we feel tension and tightness in the leg muscle, which usually occurs if the muscle contracts in the forceful or sudden manner. Calf, quadriceps, and hamstring are the areas which suffer the most from this problem. Cramps in the leg generally disappear before one minute expires, but in some cases, they last for several minutes. Sometimes cramps come during the night, while we sleep, which can lead to problems with sleep, and they are usually induced because of the impaired blood circulation due to old age. This problem is most common among older people.

Leg cramp causes

We all know how important water is for a human body. Water acts as transportation for the diverse nutrients, so if the water is not present in proper amounts in the system, the body will be deprived of the needed nutrients. When this occurs, muscles get dehydrated and this can cause muscle cramps. Lack of minerals in the human body can also produce leg cramps, along with lack of magnesium, potassium and calcium. Magnesium and potassium are very important in the building of the muscles, balancing the bodily fluids and activities of the muscles. Twitching and tremors can be caused by the lack of minerals as well, which can also lead to leg cramps. There are several more reasons for the creation of leg cramps. Some of them are heavy exercising, fatigue of the muscles, certain medications (prednisone or statins), improper balance of electrolytes, increased weight, or dehydration.

Treatment of leg cramp

We have come to the treatment part. You have seen that lack of certain items can lead to leg cramps, so, if you suffer from this problem, or if you want to avoid it, eat food with the needed minerals regularly. Eat tomatoes, citrus fruits, potatoes, bananas and broccoli as much as you can since they have high levels of nutrients. Avoid sugar and caffeine and try to keep your body properly hydrated. For this, you will have to drink from 6 to 8 glasses of water during the day. If you are suffering from a leg cramp, try to stretch the muscle and massage the painful area. This can loose the muscle and thus eliminate the pain. However, sometimes this cannot help, and if this happens, put heat on the muscle for 10 to 12 minutes. Remember that, if the problem becomes too great or persistent, it is necessary to go to the hospital and get help.