Muscle Cramps Causes and Remedies

Causes of Muscle Cramps

Muscle cramps commonly ail the elderly, though they may sometimes trouble younger people too. Cramps are basically the sudden, involuntary, temporary contraction of certain muscles, mostly in the limbs, that cause acute pain while they last. Cramps mostly occur in the calf muscles of the legs and the biceps and triceps of the arms. Typically, these muscles become stiff and make normal movement of the limbs painfully difficult while the cramp lasts. The main reason behind muscle cramps is the deficiency of certain essential nutrients in the diet, such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin E and protein. The presence of excess amounts of diuretics in the bloodstream may also cause cramps. Overexertion caused by rigorous exercise, obesity, imbalance of fluids in the body, problems relating to blood circulation, dehydration and weakening of nerves are among the other causes that might be responsible for this problem.

Natural Remedies for Muscle Cramps

There are a few simple and effective natural solutions for muscle cramps. You should gently massage the area with your fingers in the natural direction of muscle growth for 5 minutes. This helps restore normal blood circulation to the area and relieves the pain and stiffness quickly. You may also apply warm and cold compresses on the region alternately in order to relax the muscles and reduce the intensity of the pain. Soaking the feet or arm in a tub of moderately warm water also helps. If you are prone to muscle cramps, avoid taking cold showers as they tend to make your muscles stiffer. As a rule, you should drink at least 10 glasses of water every day. This not only helps flush out toxins from the body but also maintains the normal balance of fluids in the body and prevents dehydration, thereby reducing the chances of muscle cramps. You must remember to drink plenty of water before and after exercising, as the muscles tend to lose their natural water content very easily under exertion. If there is an increase in the level of diuretics in your bloodstream due to certain forms of medication, you should eat a couple of bananas every morning at breakfast. This helps prevent muscle cramps. For another remedy, add one tablespoon of calcium lactate and a teaspoon each of honey and apple cider vinegar in a cup of lukewarm water and drink this solution. This provides relief from the cramp in a few minutes. In addition, have mineral and vitamin supplements every day to keep away cramps.