Identifying the Causes of Nocturnal Leg Cramps

Nocturnal leg craps can happen in any leg muscle, and can be incredibly painful. Determine the cause so you can take action to prevent them in the future.

Have you ever been jarred out of a deep sleep because of a decidedly painful leg cramp – possibly the worst you’ve ever felt in your life? Nocturnal leg cramps can affect almost any muscle in the legs and almost always begin while a person is sleeping. While they are most common amongst women who are pregnant and amongst the elderly, individuals of any age can have them.

While many people suffering from nocturnal leg cramps have an underlying illness or sleep disorder contributing to their problems, others suffer from nocturnal leg cramps alone. You’ll find there are a number of reasons for someone without another serious disorder to have this type of cramping.

First, consider your water intake. We all understand that water is important for hydration, but is that all it is good for? What many people don’t realize is that water is essential to the transportation of vitamins, nutrients, and minerals throughout your body. If you don’t have enough water, the nutrients you need to function won’t be properly distributed, and this means your muscles will suffer along with the rest of your body.

Dehydrated muscles have a tendency to cramp or twitch. The low mineral levels in your muscle fibers will contribute to the development of nocturnal leg cramps as well. When experiencing muscle cramps, many people wonder if they are potassium deficient. Your muscles need other minerals in order to function as well, though. Take, for example, calcium. Calcium is essential for keeping your teeth and bones healthy, but it also helps keep your muscles functioning properly. A calcium supplement without phosphorous is usually recommended, especially for women, because the phosphorous prevents the vitamin from absorbing properly. Make sure you are taking enough magnesium, another supplement essential to musculoskeletal functioning, as well.
Read on

* What Works for Muscle Cramp Treatment?
* Potassium Deficiency in Children
* What Is A Muscle Cramp?

If you are experiencing nocturnal leg cramps in a frequent basis, you may want to step back and examine some of your regular lifestyle habits as well. Are you drinking enough water? Are you drinking too much caffeine, dehydrating you further and counteracting your water intake? Are you eating enough potassium-rich foods, including potatoes, cantaloupe, and bananas?

Waking up with a nocturnal muscle cramp is certainly unpleasant, but this type of cramp is not something you have to deal with for the rest of your life. Talk to your doctor or health care provider about making changes to your diet and supplement regime. He’ll be best able to help you identify any deficiencies and come up with a plan of action.

First published Jul 30, 2010 Deborah M.