If you find that you’re dealing with painful leg cramps at night, you’re not alone. In fact, research shows that 33 percent of people over the age of 60 experience at least one leg cramp every two months, and oftentimes this cramp occurs at night. Why do these leg cramps tend to pop up at night, and how can you work to put an end to them? In today’s blog, we take a closer look at nighttime leg cramps and talk about different treatment options.
Causes Of Nighttime Leg Cramps
A leg cramp occurs when you experience a sudden and involuntary muscle contraction, oftentimes in your calf or foot. Although the cramp tends to fade after a short while, pain and discomfort as a result of the involuntary cramp can linger for hours or days. Oftentimes these cramps are idiopathic in nature, meaning they don’t have a specific underlying cause, although certain risk factors can increase your likelihood of suffering a cramp. Those risk factors include:
- Being overweight
- Poor circulation
- Underlying health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure
- Taking certain medications
- Muscle overstress during the day
- Dehydration
- Pregnancy
- Stress
- Sedentary lifestyle
As you can see, a number of different factors can contribute to your nighttime leg cramps, including being inactive or too active during the day. Because so many different factors could be contributing to your leg cramps, it’s important that you have a conversation with your primary care provider or a foot specialist if you are concerned about your nighttime leg cramps.
Treating Nighttime Leg Cramps
While they may be uncomfortable, leg cramps are fairly easy to prevent and treat so long as you understand the risk factors that are likely contributing to your onset. Again, this is why it is important to consult with a specialist during an appointment or your annual physical so that you can learn more about why your nighttime leg cramps are occurring.
In many instances, treatment will focus on some simple lifestyle adjustments to improve your circulation, which can ensure that muscles get the oxygenated blood and nutrients they need to function optimally. Your doctor may also encourage you to eat a wide variety of healthy food, perform some more low-impact exercises and work towards a healthier weight. All of these factors can take some stress off your leg muscles while also helping them get the nutrients they need to thrive.
If an underlying health condition or medication regimen are contributing to your leg cramps, your doctor will provide you with some individual strategies for managing these issues. For example, diabetics may see a reduction in leg cramps by aiming to have better control over their blood sugar levels and by living an active lifestyle. If medications are the issue, your doctor may see if there is a different product that produces fewer side effects.
