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Muscle cramps are a common occurrence in people from all walks of life. Cramps can be anything from slight to very severe discomfort, disrupting sleep or daytime activities. Often they happen in the legs, but can happen elsewhere in the body as well.
Muscle cramps can be caused by many things, some of these include:
If you are suffering from muscle cramps here are a few things you can try to alleviate and maybe even prevent them. Please note if you are suffering from extreme pain or continued muscle cramps then you should see your doctor.
Drinking water can ease the symptoms if the cramps are related to dehydration, because of this it is important to keep up your water intake during the day. This is especially important if you have been sweating on a hot day as those fluids secreted out need to be replaced.
A sign of dehydration is dark yellow urine, whereas healthy urine is usually pale and straw coloured. Most adults should drink about 2 liters (or around 8 glasses) of plain water a day.
Symptoms of cramping can be relieved by taking supplements or foods containing plenty of:
There are also several herbs which may help alleviate cramps, including:
Emu oil massaged into the cramped muscle may also be helpful. This study showed that emu oil helps to decrease muscle soreness.
Stretching muscles before bedtime can help relieve cramps. You can also try exercising on a stationary bike to help strengthen weak muscles.
If the buildup of lactic acids is causing your muscle cramps then avoiding sources of these may help. Dietary sources of lactic acid can be found in cheese, whey and yoghurt.
Muscle cramps can occur for lots of reasons, including diabetes or kidney failure or taking certain medications, but more often it is from muscle fatigue, dehydration or a lack of essential vitamins and minerals. If you are able to understand what is causing your cramps, you may be able to help or prevent them from happening.