Get to know the various causes of muscle cramps that you experience
Muscle cramps are one condition that nearly everyone experiences. When using controllable muscles such as the arm and leg muscles, the muscles will alternately contract and relax. A muscle that contracts involuntarily is called a spasm, and when the spasm is strong and sustained enough, a cramp occurs. However, what hmm what is the real cause of muscle cramps?
Various causes of muscle cramps
There are various conditions that can cause muscle cramps, including:
1. Inadequate blood supply
One of the causes of muscle pain is insufficient blood supply or need. When the blood vessels that supply blood to the legs begin to narrow, it can cause pain similar to cramps. Especially, when you are exercising.
Even so, the cramps you feel will usually go away on their own after you stop exercising.
2. Nerve pressure can be a cause of muscle cramps
Pressure on the nerves in the spine can also cause muscle cramps in your legs. This pain usually gets worse if you walk.
Therefore, to overcome this muscle cramp, you can walk in a slightly forward position like you are pushing a grocery trolley. That way, you can reduce pain by managing the symptoms.
3. Mineral deficiency
A body that is deficient in minerals such as potassium, calcium, or magnesium can be the cause of muscle cramps. Usually, this condition occurs due to consuming too many drugs used to treat high blood pressure.
4. The weather is hot
It seems that hot weather can also cause muscle cramps to appear. This condition that causes muscle pain can arise when you exercise or do physical activity in hot and hot weather.
This happens because when you sweat a lot, the body becomes deprived of fluids and minerals. In fact, as mentioned above, mineral deficiencies can also be a cause of muscle cramps.
Therefore, in order to maintain healthy muscles, try to bring a drink when you have to exercise in hot weather.
5. Dehydration as a cause of muscle cramps
Still related to the previous cause, dehydration can also cause cramps. Not only dehydration in hot weather.
So, avoid dehydration and make sure you meet your daily fluid needs to avoid this condition.
6. Excessive use of muscles
Apart from being a cause of muscle pain, overuse of muscles can also cause muscle cramps. For example, when you bike long distances or do high-intensity exercise, your risk of experiencing muscle cramps increases.
If the nerves that connect the brain, spine, and muscles work too hard, these muscles respond by causing cramps.
This can also happen if you increase the intensity of the exercise suddenly, because your muscles may not be used to the new movement, a feeling of cramping occurs in the muscles.
7. Sitting or standing too long
Muscles are made to move. Therefore, muscles that are left unmoved for too long can cause muscle cramps or numbness. Usually, those of you who work at a computer all day or travel by train and have to stand up while traveling may experience this condition.
Various risk factors for muscle cramps
In addition to the cause of muscle cramps, you may have several risk factors that can increase your potential for the condition, including:
1. Increasing age
Basically, anyone can experience muscle cramps. However, the older you get, the higher your risk of experiencing muscle cramps. The reason is, muscle mass decreases as you get older. This will make it easier for the remaining muscles to be stressed.
Pressure on these muscles which can cause cramps. In fact, this condition will not only happen once or twice, but it may happen quite often.
2. Pregnancy
According to an article published in the Cleveland Clinic, one of the risk factors that can cause muscle cramps is pregnancy. Yes, usually women who are pregnant will often experience cramps in the leg area.
This usually occurs due to low levels of electrolytes in the body. Not to mention the changes in blood circulation and pressure on the nerves caused by a growing baby in the fetus to increase the risk of muscle cramps.
3. Use of certain drugs
There are several types of medications that, if used, can increase your risk of developing muscle cramps. These types of drugs include pseudoephedrine, which is used to treat nasal congestion, and statins that are used to treat high cholesterol.
4. Certain health problems
Not only the use of certain drugs can increase your risk of experiencing muscle cramps. There are also health problems that can be a contributing factor to muscle cramps.
Some of them including pinched nerves, spinal cord injuries, pressure on nerves, diabetes, to hypothyroidism can also increase your potential for experiencing muscle cramps.
5. Use of high heels for a long time
One of the risk factors that may be experienced by women is wearing high heels. You probably won’t experience muscle cramps if you only use it for a short time.
However, the longer the time you wear high heels, the greater your risk of experiencing muscle cramps. To avoid this, you can choose heels that are not too high or wear high heels only at certain times.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.