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 that 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.
Good night!
Subscribe and REMOVE ALL ADS
LOVE our articles but HATE our ads? For only $3.89 per month, enjoy a seamless, ad-free experience that lets you focus on what matters most โ enjoying all of our content, uninterrupted. ๐ 100% Secure Payment ๐ Cancel Anytime, No Strings Attached Unlock a cleaner, faster browsing experience today and gain the freedom to navigate without visual clutter.
Ready for a Ad-Free experience? Upgrade now for just $3.89/month!
To enable your Ad-Free Subscription, please fill the fields below
Thank you for your subscription!
Your subscription was successful, now you can enjoy an ad-free experience!! Note: To make sure you get no ads, please make sure to log in to your account. If you are logged in already, then refresh the page. The subscription can be cancelled at any time.
This content is reserved for our members
Join Our Community for FREE and Enjoy:
Full and free access to ALL content.
The 'Daily Mail' service sends the highest quality and the most fascinating content directly to your inbox.
Go to BabaMail
