A cramp is a condition where the muscle tenses up suddenly and involuntarily. This type of tensing is extremely severe and causes pain and discomfort. There are many different possible leg cramps causes which include excessive exercise, vitamin or mineral deficiency and acid buildup in leg muscles. One may experience a restless leg while sleeping, a condition that disturbs the sleep and also causes extreme discomfort. Leg cramps while sleeping are strong enough to wake the individual up. The cramps are usually severe and require the individual to walk, in considerable pain, to release the cramp.
It is important for a person to diagnose the cause of muscle cramps while sleeping as having a restless leg while sleeping could not only cause discomfort to the individual but be indicative of other problems as well. It is possible that the relaxation of the muscles of the feet is responsible for the cramping. A condition known as peripheral artery disease can also cause cramping to occur. Certain conditions like low blood sugar can cause the leg muscles to cramp. Diabetes may cause low or high blood sugar and this wide variation can affect the body adversely. Furthermore, individuals who are suffering from some sort of deficiency in their blood may suffer from muscle cramps. Electrolyte deficiency is a common cause for cramping.
When the underlying cause of the muscle cramps while sleeping is understood, corrective action can be taken. In some cases, there is no obvious cause for experiencing a restless leg while sleeping. Corrective action can be taken in this case as well, the only difference being that it must be done in a generalized way without actually tackling the cause because the cause is unknown.
An individual seeking leg cramps remedies should try and exercise. Exercise, particularly of the affected muscle, can improve muscle tone and also blood circulation to the muscle. Many people who suffer from leg cramps or leg pain while sleeping or otherwise are of an advanced age and may not be exercising their muscles and joints effectively. Light walking, jogging and uphill walking helps to improve the fitness of the thigh and calf muscles. These muscle exercises may boost the individual’s ability to withstand a cramp and may also alleviate the cramp altogether. Another important factor in avoiding night time leg cramps is the consumption of plenty of fluids. Hydration is very important and a lack of hydration is often blamed when an individual suffers from cramps, be it on a sports field or while sleeping. An individual who sleeps on his or her back may avoid doing so and sleep on the side. Some research suggests that this helps with leg cramps.
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