MUSCLE CRAMPS CAUSES, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

MUSCLE CRAMPS CAUSES, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION

Muscle cramps are sudden involuntary contractions also called as spasms. This can happen in one or more of your muscles and this is very common. Often occurs after exercise or after any kind of workout activity and some people get more muscle cramps specially in the necks which is also called as neck cramps which happens mostly at night and they can also be painful and they may have it for a few seconds to few minutes. You can have a cramp in any muscle but most often happens in thigh, feet, hands, arms abdominal area along the rib cage that is also very common.

MUSCLE CRAMPS

What causes muscle cramps?

It can be caused because of many things like

STRAINING

Straining overuse of a muscle, compression of nerves, spinal cord injury, pinched nerve in the neck and back.

STRAINING

DEHYDRATION

Dehydration or low levels of electrolytes like magnesium, potassium or calcium, so if you have electrolyte deficiency that happens. Dehydration occurs if you drink less water.

DEHYDRATATION

BLOOD SUPPLY

If not enough blood is getting to your muscles because of any reasons like if you have less hemoglobin or any other cause, if you don’t have enough blood supply to your muscles causes calcium deficiency, magnesium and potassium deficiency certain medicines or even like people who are on dialysis they might have these kind of deficiencies.

NO ENOUGH BLOOD SUPPLY

PREGNANCY

Pregnancy will increase the demand of electrolytes and can have these muscle cramps which are very common.

PREGNANCY

WHO ARE AT RISK FOR THESE KINDS OF PROBLEM?

obviously anyone can have muscle cramps but people who are elderly, people who are overweight, people who are athletes exercise too much and don’t exercise at all these two kind of categories have this problem. Pregnant women have a problem and the people who have certain medicines like nerve disorder neural problem medicines or even thyroid medications can actually have this problem.

SHOULD YOU ACTUALLY GO TO A DOCTOR?

Simple answer is no, you need to go to a doctor only if the muscle cramp is very severe does not go away and it is happening very frequently or they last for very long time or they are accompanied by swelling or redness or feeling of warmth on that area.

TREATMENT FOR MUSCLE CRAMPS

Treatment for muscle cramps that is most important questions, usually no treatment is needed for any kind of muscle cramps but what you can do to get relief.

STRETCHING

Stretching or gently massaging the muscle does the trick many times.

STRETCHING

ICE OR HEAT

Apply heat when the muscle is tight if the muscle is tight you can apply heat and if the muscle is score if it is paining then apply ice that’s the concept that Newton you.

FLUIDS

Get more fluids you need to drink a lot of fluids and correct your dehydration. If any other medical reason is there for your cramps you need to treat that medical reason with the help of your doctors and if there is a medicine which is causing the cramps you can get it changed by your doctor.

FLUID INTAKE

PREVENTION OF MUSCLE CRAMPS

Question arises can we prevent muscle cramps, yes we can.

We need to stretch your muscles regularly specially after and before exercise. If you get leg cramps at night then stretch your leg muscles before going to bed.

Drink plenty of water or liquids at least 3 liters even in winters. If you do intense exercise in heat or if you drink sports drink then sports drink can actually help you replenish your electrolytes don’t go for sugary sporting drinks.