MediArticles

read on…

Have you ever experienced that searing pain in your calf muscle while you are at the peak of a good night’s sleep? Well, if you have, I need not tell you what it is, but for those who have not experienced it, let me tell you that it is called a leg cramp. Leg cramps while sleeping are very common and as such, many of us do not pay a lot of attention to it. Unless of course you get a truckload of leg cramps at night while sleeping. Then the situation renders serious corrective measures. Still interested? Then go on reading.

Leg Cramps At Night While Sleeping

What are They?

Leg cramps while sleeping or nocturnal leg cramps are involuntary contractions, which happen in the calf muscles, soles. They are extremely painful and last from a few seconds to minutes. There is a distinct soreness in the muscles even after the cramp is gone. Older people experience more of these leg cramps, although experienced by individuals of all age groups, too. These fall in the overall category of muscle cramps which include smooth muscle cramps, skeletal muscle cramps, menstrual cramps and a few others.

Causes Of Leg Cramps

One of the theories for explaining night leg cramps is that a muscle gets the stimulation to contract when it is already in a shortened position. The position in which we sleep – knees slightly bent and feet pointing slightly downwards, is supposedly conducive to leg cramps. This is said to be the basic cause of leg cramps while sleeping. The other causes of a leg cramps in bed or possible problems a leg cramp may be pointing to consumption of diuretic drugs, muscle over exertion and loss of balance of salts in the bloodstream, like low or high sodium or potassium levels. Some of the other things include later stages of pregnancy, untreated hypothyroidism, excess alcohol and some of the rare causes include cirrhosis of the liver; lead poisoning and sarcoidosis. They last but not the least include uncommon nerve disorder and peripheral vascular disease. However, these are the probable causes, and a definite cause of leg cramps while sleeping at night has to be discovered.

Dealing with Leg Cramps

Whenever you get an inkling, that you are getting a leg cramp, immediately stand up and put pressure on the affected leg. That will make the cramp go away. This was the instant solution for cramps. Long term solution for prevention of cramps is massaging and stretching.

Stretching Exercises: Indulging in regular stretching exercises is a good option for preventing leg cramps. Focus on exercising the calf muscle while doing the stretching exercises. Try this out for a month or so, you would most probably see the difference.

Sleeping Posture: A change in your sleep posture can also prevent leg cramps. Keep a pillow under your calf, if you are lying on your back. Letting the feet hangover the edge of the bed is another way to relax that muscle and avoid leg cramps at night while sleeping.

Fluids: Inadequate amount of fluids in the body, that is dehydration, could be a cause of cramps. So make sure you drink lots of water and juices.

Quinine: Quinine is the last resort, if none of the previous solutions for preventing leg cramps. One tablet at bedtime is the normal dose and that is an effective remedy to reduce the number and severity of leg cramps. However, cramps may not altogether stop with quinine. It is also advised that you should not take quinine tablets if you are going to be pregnant or are pregnant.

Most of the times athletes, pregnant women, people with sedentary lifestyles are prone to cramps. They either over exert, or do not exert their muscles at all.

That was the whole story about leg cramps while sleeping. Pay attention if you are getting frequent cramps. Cramp the cramps by stretching your calf muscles and sleep well!