overview
A muscle spasm is a sudden, involuntary contraction of one or more of your muscles. If you’ve ever been woken up at night or stopped by a sudden Charley horse on your tracks, you know that muscle spasms can cause severe pain. Although usually harmless, muscle spasms can temporarily make it impossible to use the affected muscle.
Long periods of exercise or physical work, especially in hot weather, can lead to muscle cramps. Certain medications and medical conditions can also cause muscle spasms. Usually, self-care can be used to treat muscle spasms at home. Muscle cramp Treatment in Khammam
symptoms
Most muscle spasms develop in the muscles of the legs, especially the calf. In addition to the sudden, sharp pain, you may also feel or see hard muscle mass under your skin.
The reasons
Muscle overuse, dehydration, muscle fatigue, or simply holding a position for long periods of time can cause muscle cramps. In many cases, however, the cause is not known.
While most muscle spasms are harmless, some can be related to an underlying medical condition, such as:
- Insufficient blood supply. The narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to your legs (atherosclerosis of the extremities) can cause cramping pain in your legs and feet during exercise. These cramps usually go away shortly after you stop exercising.
- Nerve compression. Compression of the nerves in your spine (lumbar stenosis) can also cause cramping pain in your legs. The pain usually gets worse when you walk. Walking in a slightly bent position – like you would use to push a basket in front of you – can improve or delay the onset of your symptoms.
- Depletion of minerals. Too little potassium, calcium, or magnesium in your diet can lead to leg cramps. Diuretics – drugs often prescribed for high blood pressure – can also deplete these minerals. Muscle cramp Treatment in Khammam
Risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk of muscle cramps include:
- Age. Older people lose muscle mass, so the remaining muscle can be more easily overloaded.
- Dehydration. Athletes who are tired and dehydrated when exercising in hot weather often develop muscle spasms.
- Pregnancy. Muscle cramps are also common during pregnancy.
- Diseases. You may be at a higher risk of muscle cramps if you have diabetes or nerve, liver, or thyroid problems.
prevention
These steps can help prevent cramps:
- Avoid dehydration. Drink plenty of fluids every day. The amount depends on what you eat, your gender, your activity level, the weather, your health, your age, and any medications you are taking. Liquids help your muscles contract and relax, and keep muscle cells hydrated and less irritable. Fill up with fluids periodically during the activity and continue to drink water or other fluids after you are finished.
- Stretch your muscles. Stretch before and after prolonged muscle building. If you are prone to leg cramps at night, stretch before bed. Light exercises, like riding a stationary bike for a few minutes before bed, can also help prevent cramps while you sleep. Muscle cramp Treatment in Khammam