Leg cramps are a sudden involuntary contraction of muscle tissue, accompanied by a sharp sharp pain, a feeling of numbness and the inability to fully control the limb.
How does this happen, and are leg cramps dangerous?
During cramps, the muscle changes its shape, hardens hard, can slightly twitch, and after it stops, when the muscle fibers relax, the pain may still be felt for a while. Most often, muscle spasms occur in the back and foreface of the thighs, shins, feet, toes, which last about 2-5 minutes.
In single cases, especially at night, a few attach importance to them and think about why there are cramps in the legs at night, and seriously think about the problem only in the case of frequent occurrence of a symptom. However, it should be understood that this manifestation, even the first time, can conceal serious enough diseases that in the future can cause more severe symptoms. Therefore, it is better to consult a doctor in time, find out why there are cramps in the legs at night, and if necessary start the appropriate treatment.
Why there are cramps in the legs?
The most frequent and innocuous reason why there are cramps in the calves and other leg areas at night is associated with an uncomfortable position in the bed, which compresses the vessels of the lower extremities and disrupts blood flow, oxygen and nutrient supply to the tissues, which leads to muscle spasm .
Violation of blood flow and convulsions occur sometimes and when the body is undercooled.
It is also believed that night convulsions can be caused by failure of mechanisms to regulate muscle contraction, which can occur with excessive physical exertion the day before, especially in people with insufficient physical fitness.
The pathological causes of leg cramps that occur both at night and during the day are:
- dehydration of the body;
- a deficiency or an overabundance in the blood of elements such as potassium, sodium or magnesium;
- varicose veins ;
- kidney disease;
- cardiovascular pathologies;
- Thyroid gland diseases;
- flat feet;
- obesity ;
- alcoholism;
- neurological disorders;
- infectious diseases;
- side effects after taking certain medications (eg, diuretics, antiasthmatic).