Description

A muscle cramp is a sudden, unexpected, the hardening of one or more muscles. Sometimes called a cramp, a muscle cramp can be very painful. Exercising or working hard, especially in the heat, can lead to muscle cramps. Some medications and diseases can also cause muscle cramps.

Muscle cramps are not dangerous. Self-care can treat most muscle cramps.

Symptoms

Muscle cramps occur mostly in the muscles of the leg, most often in the calf. The cramps usually last from seconds to minutes. After the cramp of the cases, the area may be sensitive for hours or days.

When to see a doctor

Muscle cramps usually disappear on their own. In general do not need medical attention. However, consult a health care provider for cramps:

  • Cause severe discomfort.
  • You have swelling in the legs, redness or skin changes.
  • Come with muscle weakness.
  • It happens often.
  • Do not improve with self-care.

Causes

A muscle cramp can occur after you work a muscle too hard, and the effort itself, the loss of body fluids through sweat or simply holding a position for a long time. Often, however, the cause is not known.

Most muscle cramps are harmless. But some may be related to a health problem, such as:

  • There is not enough blood flow. A narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the legs can cause a cramping pain in the feet and legs during the exercise. These cramps usually go away soon after the exercise stops.
  • The compression of the nerve. The pressure on the nerves in the spine can also cause cramping pain in the legs. The pain usually gets worse when you walk. Walk slightly bent forward, as when pushing a shopping cart, it could relieve the cramps.
  • Not enough minerals. Too little potassium, calcium or magnesium in the diet may cause cramps in the legs. The medications often prescribed for high blood pressure can cause an increase in urination, which can deplete the body of these minerals.

Risk factors

The factors that could increase the risk of muscle cramps include:

  • Age. Older people lose muscle mass. Then, the muscles can't work as hard and can get stressed more easily.
  • Poor conditioning. Not being in shape to an activity causes muscles to tire more easily.
  • Extreme sweating. The athletes are tired and sweat a lot while playing sports in warm weather often get muscle cramps.
  • Pregnancy. Muscle cramps are common during pregnancy.
  • Medical problems. Have diabetes or conditions that involve the nerves, liver, or thyroid disease can increase the risk of muscle cramps.
  • Weight. Being overweight can increase the risk of muscle cramps.

Prevention

These steps can help prevent cramps:

  • Drink plenty of fluids every day. Muscles need to be fluid to work properly. During activity, drink fluids regularly. Drink water or other fluids without caffeine or alcohol after the activity.
  • Stretch the muscles. Gently stretch before and after the use of any of the muscles during a time. To avoid getting cramps in the legs during the night, stretch before bedtime. Light exercise, such as riding a stationary bike for a few minutes before bedtime, it can also help to prevent cramps during sleep.

Treatment

Self-care measures can generally, the treatment of muscle cramps. A health care provider can show you stretching exercises that can reduce the chances of getting muscle cramps. Drink plenty of fluids can also help to prevent muscle cramps.

If you're still having cramps that wake you from your sleep, a service provider may prescribe medications to relax the muscles or help you sleep.

Lifestyle and home remedies

If you have a cramp, these actions may help:

  • Stretching and massage.Stretch the cramped muscle and gently rub it. For a cramp in the calf of the leg, keeping the leg straight, while pulling the top of his foot on the narrow side towards your face. Also try standing with your weight on your cramped leg and pressing down firmly. This helps to relieve a cramp in the back of the thigh too. For a cramp in the thigh, trying to get the foot on the leg toward your buttock. Holding on to a chair to support himself.
  • Apply heat or cold. The use of a warm towel or heating pad on tense or tight muscles. Take a hot bath or directing the stream of a hot shower in the cramped muscle can also help. Rub the muscle pain with the ice it can also relieve the pain.

Stretching and massage. Stretch the cramped muscle and gently rub it. For a cramp in the calf of the leg, keeping the leg straight, while pulling the top of his foot on the narrow side towards your face. Also try standing with your weight on your cramped leg and pressing down firmly. This helps to relieve a cramp in the back of the thigh too.

For a cramp in the thigh, trying to get the foot on the leg toward your buttock. Holding on to a chair to support himself.

Alternative medicine

Take vitamin B complex and other vitamins can help control the cramping in the legs. Talk with your health care provider about what to bring.

Preparing for your appointment

See a health care provider if you have muscle cramps that are often severe and does not improve with self-care.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to the reason of his appointment, and when they began.
  • Key personal information, including major stresses, recent life changes and family medical history.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking, including dosage.
  • Questions to ask your provider.

For muscle cramps, questions to ask your provider may include:

  • What is likely causing my cramps?
  • There are other possible causes?
  • What tests do I need?
  • What can I do about cramps?

Ask any other questions you have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your provider is likely to ask questions such as:

  • How often have cramps and how bad they are?
  • What, if anything, do you do before you get a cramp? Make cramps usually occur after exercise?
  • Do you have cramps for the rest?
  • Can stretching help your cramps?
  • Do you have other symptoms, such as weakness or numbness?
  • Have you noticed changes in the urine after exercise?
The symptoms and treatment of Muscle cramps