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Night Cramps-- Why Your Legs Seize Up At
Night
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September 24, 2008, Updated October 14, 2009
By Susan Callahan, Health Editor and Featured Columnist
Here's a common problem. You are sleeping soundly when
you are awakened by a terrible pain in your legs. Your calf
muscle has seized up, a terrible tightness in your calf,
cramping horribly. Nothing you can do makes it go away.
You just hang on, bearing up under the pain for what
seems like forever until it subsides.
What causes leg cramps and leg pain at night? And why do
they so often affect the calf muscles?
Night cramps are something of a medical mystery. Scientists
believe that they are caused as the body tries to process
electrolytes at night. Some researchers also believe they
are related to diabetes.
Here are some suspected causes of night cramps:
Lack of potassium in your diet
Too much salt in your diet
Muscle overexertion
Prolonged sitting
Dehydration
Pregnancy
Diabetes
Neuromuscular disorders, such as Parkinson's disease
Certain medications, such as albuterol, niacin, diuretics, and
some calcium channel blockers and antipsychotic
medications
Alcohol use
What can you do to stop night leg cramps or Charlie
horses?
1. Eat a banana a day. Bananas contain high concentrations
of potassium. Lack of potassium may be the most common
cause of night leg cramps.
2. Skip the salt. Too much salt chases down the potassium
in your blood, leading to cramps.
3. Take a warm bath. Relax the muscles of your legs with a
warm bath before bedtime.
4. Oil rub. Massage the leg muscles before you sleep with
baby oil or olive oil. This may help the muscles to better
process the electrolytes.
5. Drink an electrolyte replacement drink. A small glass of
sports drink may help. Popular brands include Gatorade.
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