Sudden leg cramps while sleeping, is it calcium deficiency? wrong! And these 3 reasons, don't ignore it easily

Uncle Liu, who is in his early seventies this year, usually pays attention to health preservation, and has always maintained good health. Some time ago, Uncle Liu found that his legs always tend to cramp when he sleeps. After checking the information on the Internet, he found that many professionals believed that leg cramps were caused by calcium deficiency, so he went to the pharmacy to buy a few boxes of calcium tablets.

However, after taking it for a week according to the instructions in the instructions, the symptoms of leg cramps were still not relieved, which troubled Uncle Liu so much that he had to go to the hospital for investigation. The doctor pointed out that leg cramps are not necessarily caused by calcium deficiency.

1. Why do legs cramp?

The symptoms of leg cramps are actually not uncommon, but many people's first reaction is to think that there is a calcium deficiency, so why do legs cramp? What causes leg cramps?

Cramps are medically called muscle spasms, which refer to the sudden tonic contraction of muscles, which generally occur during sleep, strenuous exercise, and swimming. There are many reasons for cramps, not necessarily calcium deficiency, but also the following reasons.

1. Too tired

Excessive exercise will cause people to be in a state of excessive fatigue, and the metabolism in the body will be affected, which will cause the leg muscles to be stimulated and cause cramps.

2. Lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans

Once atherosclerotic plaque is attached to the arterial wall of the lower extremities, it may lead to narrowing and blockage of the arteries, causing insufficient blood supply to the lower extremities, resulting in some symptoms such as leg cramps, intermittent claudication, and soreness of the lower extremities.

3. Calcium deficiency

Calcium deficiency in the body leads to hypocalcemia, and the threshold of neuromuscular excitation becomes lower. Even a small stimulus may cause neuromuscular excitation, which will cause abnormal contraction of the legs and cause leg cramps. This phenomenon is more common in the elderly and pregnant women among.

4. Poor blood flow

Patients with symptoms of varicose veins in the legs, if they remain in one position all the time, it may also lead to poor blood flow, which can cause leg cramps.

2. What should I do if the cramps are unbearable? Corresponding to solve one by one

Many people may have a deep understanding. Sometimes the cramps are unbearably painful. It is really troublesome. So what should I do if the cramps are unbearably painful? Different parts have different solutions.

1. Toe Cramps

If you find toe cramps, straighten your legs in time, put the heel of one foot against the cramped foot, and press the cramped sole of the foot back with the non-cramped foot.

2. Crotch cramps

Squat with your feet apart, and lift your buttocks with your palms on the ground at the same time. Repeat several times.

3. Thigh cramps

At this time, bend your knees, hug your legs in front of your chest, contract hard a few times, then straighten your legs, and repeat several times.

4. Calf cramps

Calf cramps, you need to straighten your legs, use your hands to push the soles of your feet back toward the instep, or directly push down on the ground with your cramped calves.

5. Upper arm cramps

Make a fist with the cramp hand, then bend the elbow, close the forearm to the upper arm, straighten it hard, and repeat several times until the symptoms are relieved.

6. Palm cramps

Clench the fingers of both hands together, then reverse the palms facing outwards, stretch forward vigorously, and repeat several times until the symptoms are relieved.

3. How to avoid cramps when sleeping at night?

If you want to avoid sleeping at night and cramping, which will affect your sleep, you must master preventive measures.

It is recommended to observe the weather changes at any time and add or remove clothes well. It is very important for the elderly to keep warm in winter. Do not stay in one position for a long time while sleeping. People with calcium deficiency should supplement calcium regularly. In addition, they should avoid excessive exercise, which may cause muscle fatigue or physical fatigue, which may also stimulate the symptoms of cramp in the calf.

The symptoms of leg cramps during sleep may not necessarily be caused by calcium deficiency, but may also be caused by fatigue, poor blood circulation, arteriosclerosis and obliterans of the lower extremities, etc. For the cramps that appear in different parts, you can take different methods In addition, there are usually some measures to prevent cramps.

References:

[1] Why do I always have cramps? What should I do if I have a sudden cramp? .Human Health.2020-12-21

[2] People with frequent leg cramps may have "blocked" blood vessels. Life Times 2021-12-31

[3] Cramps are not a disease, they hurt like hell! Learn these 4 tricks to help you prevent it~.CCTV life circle.2017-12-14

Reproduction is prohibited without the author's permission