Causes of leg cramps – what diseases can cramps in calves and feet indicate?

Probably, there is no person who, at least once in his life, would not have experienced leg cramps. This phenomenon can be short-term, long-term – or even regularly occurring. Cramps always cause discomfort, and in other cases, severe pain. And, if you can still cope with rare and mild convulsions – and immediately forget about them, then especially severe cases sometimes require the intervention of specialists.

The content of the article:

1. What are seizures – causes of seizures
2. Why is it cramping the calves and feet in pregnant women?
3. Leg cramps in children at night
4. What to do with seizures – first aid

What is cramps – causes of leg cramps

First of all, it is worth understanding the very concept: what are “convulsions”, and where do they come from?

The term “convulsions” is usually called involuntary and “suddenly” contractions of one or more muscle groups, which occur accompanied by pain.

Most often, people encounter cramps in the calf muscles, which are invariably accompanied by very intense pain.

Video: Leg cramps: causes and treatment

As for the causes of seizures, there are quite a few of them …

1. Improper nutrition – and, as a result, an imbalanced balance of vitamins in the body. ¾ All cases of seizures are caused by potassium deficiency. Vitamin B deficiency may also be the cause.
2. Excessive physical activity.
3. Varicose veins, thrombophlebitis.
4. Kidney disease.
5. Impaired blood circulation in the lower extremities due to any reason (for example, atherosclerosis).
6. Heart failure.
7. Deficiency of glucose in the blood in diabetes mellitus.
8. Osteochondrosis.
9. Constant insomnia.
10. Stress and psycho-emotional overload.
11. Excess estrogen in the blood.

Seizures are a phenomenon that today has become common not only among the elderly, but also among young people.

Most often, due to …

• Wearing tight clothing and high heels.
• Meals “on the run” and fast foods leading to gastrointestinal diseases and hypovitaminosis.
• Self-medication, giving various complications to the cardiac and renal systems.
• Frequent stress, which is responded by an increase in pressure.

It is important to note that exactly lack of magnesium becomes the most “popular” cause of seizures. Improper nutrition gradually leads to a decrease in the level of magnesium in the blood, and the use of alcohol, sweets and coffee reduce the intensity of absorption of magnesium into the blood from those rare right foods that the body still manages to get in the process of life “on the run”.

How can you tell if you are having seizures due to a lack of magnesium?

The deficiency of this element will be indicated by additional signs:

• Memory deteriorates and concentration of attention begins to decrease.
• You get tired quickly, your limbs often go numb and nervous tics appear.
• Pain in the heart may appear, tachycardia and arrhythmia occur.
• You start to sweat profusely at night, become anxious and irritable, and often wake up tired from nightmares.
• Caries develops faster, toothaches become frequent.
• Menses more and more painful.
• Spasms of the larynx, esophagus, or bronchi are periodically observed.
• Nails become brittle and flaky, and hair becomes weak, thin and lifeless.
• Diarrhea and constipation occur, and abdominal pains manifest themselves, which can be dealt with with the help of antispasmodics.

Why does it often cramp the calves and feet in pregnant women?

According to statistics, almost every expectant mother meets with convulsions during pregnancy.

And, given that pregnant women, for the most part, are still healthy, the cause of the phenomenon is not sought in heart and kidney diseases (although these also take place), but in the lack of vitamins, which is observed for reasons related precisely to the “situation” future mother:

1. Due to improper nutrition and mom’s grocery “whims”.
2. Due to the disturbed work of the parathyroid glands during toxicosis.
3. Due to the frequent use of diuretics, which are usually prescribed to expectant mothers when swelling occurs.
4. Due to the active growth of the crumbs in the 2nd trimester (note – the baby “greedily drags away” for development not only the nutrients that are relied on for themselves, but also for the mother).

Video: Leg cramps during pregnancy

Also, the causes of seizures in the process of carrying a baby include:

• Iron deficiency in the body and severe blood loss.
• A decrease in blood sugar, which usually occurs in the morning and at night due to a disturbed diet, eating too late, and the abuse of easily digestible carbohydrates.
• Venous insufficiency and impaired blood circulation in the lower extremities due to severe stress.
• Oxygen deficiency in the body.
• Abuse of nicotine and coffee, due to which dehydration of the muscles occurs.
• Compression of the inferior vena cava by the enlarged uterus in the supine position.
• Late gestosis, which manifests itself in the 3rd trimester with swelling and increased pressure, the detection of protein in the urine, and seizures. It is worth noting that eclampsia is dangerous for the baby and the mother and requires urgent delivery, which is carried out through a cesarean section.

Leg cramps in children at night – why do they occur?

Oddly enough, children also have to get acquainted with seizures – which, as a rule, frighten babies unprepared for such phenomena, causing panic and crying.

Usually, in children, seizures become companions of a state of active growth.

In addition, seizures can occur in children due to …

1. An uncomfortable sleeping position and staying in the wrong posture for a long period of time.
2. Development of flat feet.
3. Deficiency of a number of trace elements in the body.
4. Hypothermia of the legs.

What to do in case of cramps in the feet, toes and calves – first aid at home, when the legs are brought together

Unlike serious cases, mild seizures are mild in most cases and require no specialist help or medication.

Video: Three ways to relieve a seizure

And to cope with seizures, it is enough to use one of the methods used “at home”:

• In a sitting position (on a chair, bed), lower your legs to the cold floor and relax the muscles as much as possible (it is important to take the load off the muscles).
• Grab your toes with your hand, which brought, and strongly pull the toes towards you.
• Prick the muscle that cramped with a regular pin. Naturally, the needle should be pre-treated with alcohol, and it is necessary to prick exactly at the site of the spasm development.
• Massage the caviar with the foot (it is possible with the use of a warming ointment) with various movements – with the help of pinching, stroking, patting. The foot should be massaged from the toes to the heel, and then from it to the side of the knee. Next, we raise our legs to a height of about 60 degrees, which ensures the outflow of blood in order to avoid a recurrence of the convulsion.
• We make a warm bath – and immerse our legs in it up to the knees. You can also use a powerful warm shower foot massage. Hot foot bath is contraindicated for pregnant women!
• In the “sitting” position with your legs lowered to the floor, sharply bend your toes for 10 seconds, then straighten and bend again.
• Stand on tiptoe for 10 seconds, then lower to a full foot.

If a cramp caught you in the water:

1. Don’t panic! Panic can lead to drowning, and there are still so many unfinished business on the shore. Therefore, we gather ourselves into a “fist”, grab the toes of the leg cramped together and pull them strongly towards ourselves through the pain!
2. We pinch the gastrocnemius muscle strongly.
3. We calmly swim on our backs back to the shore.

If you often experience cramps in the water, make it a habit to attach a large safety pin to your swimsuit, which can save your life in the water in the event of a cramps.

In the case when convulsions accompany you not infrequently, but constantly, you should undergo an examination to find out the true cause.

Convulsions are not an independent disease, but only a symptom of any disorders in the body, therefore, a timely visit to a doctor will save you from more serious problems.

All information on the site is for informational purposes only and is not a guide to action. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by a doctor. We kindly ask you not to self-medicate, but to make an appointment with a specialist!
Health to you and your loved ones!