Leg CrampsWritten by John Russell
Everyone experiences muscle cramps from time-to-time. Perhaps your neck gets cramped after a day at your desk or you get a leg cramp after exercise when you’ve been sedentary for a long time. Some women get leg cramps after wearing high heels. The solution to most of these common cramps is to stretch muscles regularly and, in case of high heels, avoid them.There is another kind of cramp that people often experience: nocturnal leg cramps. Just as you’ve fallen deep asleep, you’re awakened by severe and painful cramping in your calf muscle. Most people jump up and hop around on affected leg until cramp goes away. But, occasionally, it returns. Sometimes cramp is in thigh; sometimes foot. The first thing to check if you have leg cramps is your prescription drugs. Some can cause cramping. Diuretics, taken for high blood pressure or heart disorders, can cause an imbalance of your potassium and magnesium levels. The most common cause of nocturnal leg cramps is calcium deficiency. If you are postmenopausal, trying to lose weight, or don’t consume enough calcium, you are vulnerable to developing leg cramps. To relieve leg cramps and prevent any long-term problems associated with calcium deficiency, start today to increase your calcium consumption. If you’re avoiding fat, try nonfat yogurt and skim milk. Also, you can take a calcium supplement at bedtime.
| | Leg CrampsWritten by John Russell
Everyone experiences muscle cramps from time-to-time. Perhaps your neck gets cramped after a day at your desk or you get a leg cramp after exercise when you’ve been sedentary for a long time. Some women get leg cramps after wearing high heels. The solution to most of these common cramps is to stretch muscles regularly and, in case of high heels, avoid them.There is another kind of cramp that people often experience: nocturnal leg cramps. Just as you’ve fallen deep asleep, you’re awakened by severe and painful cramping in your calf muscle. Most people jump up and hop around on affected leg until cramp goes away. But, occasionally, it returns. Sometimes cramp is in thigh; sometimes foot. The first thing to check if you have leg cramps is your prescription drugs. Some can cause cramping. Diuretics, taken for high blood pressure or heart disorders, can cause an imbalance of your potassium and magnesium levels. The most common cause of nocturnal leg cramps is calcium deficiency. If you are postmenopausal, trying to lose weight, or don’t consume enough calcium, you are vulnerable to developing leg cramps. To relieve leg cramps and prevent any long-term problems associated with calcium deficiency, start today to increase your calcium consumption. If you’re avoiding fat, try nonfat yogurt and skim milk. Also, you can take a calcium supplement at bedtime. Pregnant women are sometimes vulnerable to leg cramps, which usually occurs due to a change in their calcium metabolism. Calcium supplements can help. Please check with your obstetrician before beginning any supplements. Another help for nocturnal leg cramps is vitamin E.
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