Contents:
- Medical Video: Why Your Legs Cramp at Night And How to Keep it From Happening Again
- Nocturnal leg cramps, the phenomenon of leg cramps during sleepless nights
- Foot cramps when sleeping different from restless legs syndrome
- What are the causes of night cramps?
- What should be done when the leg cramps suddenly occur?
- What can be done to prevent foot cramps during sleep?
Medical Video: Why Your Legs Cramp at Night And How to Keep it From Happening Again
If lately you often wake up in the middle of the night because you suddenly feel foot cramps during sleep, maybe the cause isnocturnal leg cramps. Why can you experience it, and how dangerous is this condition? Come on, see the full review below.
Nocturnal leg cramps, the phenomenon of leg cramps during sleepless nights
Anyone can experience leg cramps while sleeping, although it is more common in older people. Cramps usually affect the calf muscles or thigh muscles, or even across the legs. Can be one or both sides of the foot.
Foot cramps due to sensation nocturnal leg cramps can be very painful and last for several minutes so that it wakes you up from sleep. The average person can experience cramps for up to 9 minutes. However, cramps can also occur before you go to bed.
Pain due to cramps can gradually disappear by itself. Even so, in some cases calf cramps can leave a sore sensation for the next 24 hours.
Foot cramps when sleeping different from restless legs syndrome
Both are often confused because both occur at night, but leg cramps and restless leg syndrome (RLS) are two different conditions.
The uncomfortable sensation that occurs in the legs due to RLS does not cause pain or cramping, just a desire arises to move the legs so that the sensation disappears. The discomfort can come back again when the movement stops.
Meanwhile, leg cramps due to nocturnal leg cramps occur due to leg muscles that suddenly tighten causing extraordinary pain. This muscle tension usually occurs when the foot is resting.
What are the causes of night cramps?
The cause of leg cramps during sleep is unknown, but some cases have something to do with;
- Sitting for a very long time
- Muscles that are used excessively when on the move, for example exercise is too heavy
- Too long standing
- Incorrect sitting position
In general, night cramps at night are related to muscle fatigue and leg nerve problems. Reporting from the Medical News Today page, leg cramps are more common in this modern era because people are increasingly less squatting, positions that can stretch the calf muscles.
Night cramps can also be related to a number of medical conditions below:
- Pregnancy
- Alcohol drinkers
- People who are dehydrated
- Parkinson's disease
- Nervous disorders
- People with flat feet
- People who experience disorders of the endocrine system (for example, diabetes, or hypothyroidism)
- Doing cancer treatment
- Having chronic kidney disease
What should be done when the leg cramps suddenly occur?
- Massaging stiff muscles by hand or compressing cold with ice.
- Stretch muscles.
- Get up from the bed and slowly move your legs by walking.
- Take a warm bath or soak a calf that cramps with water.
If cramps continue to occur even though you have done the various methods above coupled with complaints of difficulty sleeping, you should consult your doctor. Lack of sleep due to leg cramps can also eventually affect your activity during the day
What can be done to prevent foot cramps during sleep?
- Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, at least 8 glasses per day.
- Do a light stretch to relax the leg muscles for a few minutes before you go to bed.
- Remove the blanket / bed cover that covers your feet
- Wear shoes that are right and comfortable when on the move.
- Exercise regularly, but don't force your body to exercise too much for a long time. Always warm up when starting exercise and cooling afterwards.
