Leg Cramps at Night

A cramp can be defined as a sudden muscle contraction that can occur due to sectoral reasons. Sportsmen, athletes and dancers are more prone to muscle contractions due to rigorous physical activities. Although most of times, leg cramps can be harmless, one cannot ignore some severe underlying causes that can be associated with it. Let us have a look at the causes of it in detail.

Leg Cramps at Night Causes

As mentioned above, one of the most common cause of cramping in legs at night is overexertion during the day. Over use of the muscle or pulling of the muscle during exercise can also cause cramps in the leg. The following are the other causes of nocturnal leg cramps.

Dehydration
One may not be aware but drinking water is very essential as it plays an important role in proper functioning of our body. Lack of water leads to a condition known as dehydration which has a negative effect on various functions of the body. One of the side effect of dehydration is cramping in the leg. Dehydration can be mild or severe depending on the amount of fluids lost from the body.

Electrolyte Imbalance
Certain minerals like sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, etc. are required by our body in adequate amounts. Certain reasons like starvation, alcoholism, etc. can lead to an electrolytic imbalance. Extreme low levels of electrolyte lead to leg cramps at night.

Use of Diuretics
Diuretics are products that increase the production of urine in human beings. Over intake of diuretics is found to be one of the causes of leg cramps at night while sleeping. Diuretics are believed to cause imbalance of certain minerals leading in muscle cramps.

Apart from the above mentioned major causes, there are several other potential factors that lead to night leg cramps include type 2 diabetes, Addison's disease, cirrhosis, gastric bypass surgery, kidney failure, etc. If one experiences this symptom in more than one occasion, one should consult the doctor immediately.

Leg Cramps at Night Treatment

The doctor may undertake physical examination for the diagnose and treatment of leg cramps. Dehydration can be treated by drinking oral rehydration or electrolytic fluids. These are easily gotten in the market and provide all the required electrolytes in the body. In case of severe dehydration, intravenous (IV) fluid may be required. Electrolytic imbalance can also be treated with the help of electrolytic drinks, sports drinks or by consuming foodstuffs that contain high amount of certain minerals. Similar to dehydration, extreme case of electrolyte imbalance can be treated with IV fluids. If one experiences leg cramps at night on the intake of diuretics or other drugs, he should inform the doctor immediately. The doctor may either advise to discontinue the intake or change the course. If you are looking for leg cramps at night remedies, then remember a healthy and nutritious diet and adequate amount of water (8-10 glasses daily) help in preventing this condition to a great extent. Secondly, sportsmen and athletes should be careful while performing strenuous activities to avoid exertion or pulling of the muscles.

These were some of the causes and the respective treatment methods of leg cramps at night. In most of the cases, leg cramps is a non severe cases and all the above mentioned causes can be treated effectively if timely treatment is undertaken. Lastly one should remember that it is better to follow preventive measures to avoid the occurrence of this condition. Take care!