home
RSS
Get Some Sleep: Avoid frequent leg cramping
Leg cramps usually involve sudden, intense pain, unlike RLS, which is usually a steady, uncomfortable feeling that lasts for hours.
August 2nd, 2011
12:19 PM ET

Get Some Sleep: Avoid frequent leg cramping

Lisa Shives, M.D., is the founder of Northshore Sleep Medicine in Evanston, Illinois. She blogs regularly on The Chart. Read more from her at Dr. Lisa Shives’ Sleep Better Blog.

It is frustrating, to both patients and doctors, that modern medical science often lacks understanding of or treatment for common, everyday ailments.

One such ailment, leg cramps, is very common and yet poorly understood. It often plagues people at night, and therefore “sleep-related leg cramps” is recognized as a bona fide sleep disorder by the International Classification of Sleep Disorders.

Most people have had a “charley horse” and know that leg cramps can be quite painful. Leg cramps result from the sudden, intense and involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscle group. They usually occur in the calf muscle or the small muscles of the feet.

If this happens once a year, few people think of this as a medical condition, but there are people who have leg cramps every night, sometimes several times a night. The cramps can prevent people from falling asleep or can awaken them many times during the night, and therefore leg cramps can lead to chronic sleep deprivation.

The painful sensation is usually relieved by strenuous stretching of the affected muscle. Often, people jump out of bed in their attempt to stop the searing pain. Both the prevalence and frequency increase as people age. There is research showing that approximately one-third of all people over the age of 60 and one-half of those over the age of 80 reported having sleep-related leg cramps once in the previous two months. Six percent of adults over the age of 60 have reported having leg cramps that disturb them every night.

Leg cramps are sometimes confused with restless legs syndrome (now known as Willis-Ekbom disease), but the two disorders are quite different, although patients can have both problems.

RLS is not commonly described as a sudden, intense pain. Also, people who suffer from RLS usually have a steady, uncomfortable feeling in the legs that lasts for hours, and this maddening feeling is only temporarily relieved for a few minutes while they move or rub their legs.

There are some medical conditions that seem to predispose people to leg cramps such as diabetes, peripheral vascular disease and neuromuscular disorders. Medications such as oral contraceptives have been associated with leg cramps. They occur in approximately 40% of pregnant women and usually resolve after birth.

If leg cramping is frequent and intense, people should not assume that they have benign, idiopathic (of unknown cause) leg cramps. It is advised to consult a physician in order to differentiate leg cramps from more serious medical conditions such as akathisia, myelopathy, peripheral neuropathy and disorders of calcium imbalance.

There are numerous theories about the cause of leg cramps but little evidence supporting the veracity of any given theory. One common notion is that they result from dehydration, but the little research done does not support this.

Also common is the idea that there is a relative electrolyte imbalance. Magnesium and potassium are popular culprits. Again, there is little research on this. One study attempted to treat leg cramps in a group of pregnant women and found that magnesium was no better than a placebo.

The same is true for potassium deficiency; there is no research showing that low potassium causes leg cramps or that taking extra potassium prevents them. That said, I have patients who swear that a banana before bed takes care of the leg cramping problem. I also know people who report that sitting in a bath of Epsom salts right before bed helps ward off  nocturnal leg cramps.

I have patients who think that the leg cramps come upon them only when they exercise strenuously, and then there are those who associate the cramps with lack of exercise. The best theory is the “squatting hypothesis,” which speculates that leg cramping is associated with the modern habit of sitting on chairs and on the toilet instead of squatting as our forebears would have done.

I believe that is just another way of saying that leg cramps could be caused by a lack of strengthening and stretching of the calf and feet muscles.

Follow @CNNHealth on Twitter

The information contained on this page does not and is not intended to convey medical advice. CNN is not responsible for any actions or inaction on your part based on the information that is presented here. Please consult a physician or medical professional for personal medical advice or treatment.

Post by:
Filed under: Pain • Sleep

soundoff (1,613 Responses)
  1. tadalafil daily use

    tadalafil citrate liquid https://tadalisxs.com/ tadalafi

    February 6, 2021 at 18:15 | Report abuse | Reply
  2. hydroxychlor

    hydroxychlor 200 mg https://hydroxychloroquinex.com/ what is hydroxychloroquine prescribed for

    February 6, 2021 at 18:15 | Report abuse | Reply
  3. what is clonidine

    choloroquine https://chloroquineorigin.com/ chloroquinolone malaria

    February 6, 2021 at 18:17 | Report abuse | Reply
  4. buy zithromax canada

    zpack for uti https://zithromaxes.com/ zithromax tablets

    February 6, 2021 at 18:21 | Report abuse | Reply
  5. Mickellzlm

    learn how to get your sweetheart all over again that one could hosed towards

    thereby, you are in a state coming from all frustration and simply struggling with find your wife come back. the best thing is you still have a way to reunite your spouse desire to know about you did defective. you ought to know one word, might, humbleness. in the case when pestering and after that running will offer you success, for you to do it. for anybody in the wrong, you then definitely must have ones own ego apart, this lady has all the in order to be angry away with you.

    initial thing: admit you were inaccurate

    it only takes courage to confess you ought to made an oversight. do not attempt to hide your problem featuring is placed or bring about any explanations get rid of. own up in which it the things you did was in fact unforgivable. getting some shut-eye certainly won't help you then again a great deal quandary in front of you. don't attempt to reduce your own faults to express which it was no fuss. situation your every thing you did could certainly wreck your union, without a doubt that was an additional bother for my child. similarly, put on try to guard yourself because,since she is going to be reasoning and arguing up to you your whole day.

    Second component: insure your woman you will vary

    the next thing you'll need to do is to ensure that your wife that you may want to change for so much the better. it may be had known the best utterance using of the fact that there were times that, it's a must to assure this lady that you have asiame review change forever. without, it can certainly select a whole lot execute that helps make her acknowledge one, for this reason cautious ready to influence her. regardless of whether around something you will need rest, exactly like sipping in addition applying tobacco practice, in which case you must take off.

    Third factor: apply for professional help

    If it is about your current big annoyance, you need it managed or maybe also, uncommon tranning lessons operating in annoyance therapy. whenever you endlaved by alcohol consumption possibly illegal drugs, you should have to seek specialist help. express need already marketed some work to outweigh the bad habits. If you really need to get your lady rear side, you best try to get significant considering completing all those people turns.

    certainly, it takes a lot of effort and work. if you consider that it is small disorder, then you can certainly let your spouse slip away as it is the major reasons why the particular break-down nevertheless. you will want to work on your site and hang your golden technologies out briefly. find out how involving being humble and ask her yet another good occasion. if you can deposit this ego in reserve you can get an improved chance on how to get girl back in time.

    February 7, 2021 at 09:20 | Report abuse | Reply
  6. Earle Sisca

    What can you get for $9.95? Maybe a couple up-sized meals at a fast food drive through? Or two large caramel lattes from an overpriced coffee shop? But what if instead, you could get something way more valuable? Well, if you are looking for a simple, step-by-step blueprint for pocketing daily commissions online... you can. Here's what I'm talking about... Right now... At this very moment... You can activate your test-drive of “The 12 Minute Affiliate System” for just $9.95 (even if it’s 2AM) This step-by-step system that... ✔️ Is Easy to Use ✔️ Allows you to potentially pocket online commissions everyday ✔️ Requires zero techie skills ✔️ Requires zero building your own products ✔️ Is completely newbie friendly http://divineurl.com/28di0

    http://tvc.in/2vp3l

    February 9, 2021 at 03:08 | Report abuse | Reply
  7. Corey Sturiale

    Want to know how one affiliate marketer made $460 in online commissions in a single day? He reveals everything on this free training. Can I guarantee how much you'll make? No. But I can show you what's working for him and his students http://divineurl.com/28di0

    http://divineurl.com/28di0

    February 9, 2021 at 03:08 | Report abuse | Reply
  8. Scott Kirkendoll

    Earn 500 a Day With Our Passive Income System Doing These 3 Steps: Step 1: Get our ready made niche websites, Step 2: Setup your Paypal account. Step 3: Run our Unlimited Traffic System from our Free 850 sources of traffic and start earning your income in same day. More info: https://www.k3reviews.com/2020/08/16/monster-mode-700k/

    https://www.k3reviews.com/

    February 13, 2021 at 03:00 | Report abuse | Reply
  9. Privateproxy.me

    Perfect just what I was searching for! .

    https://dreamproxies.com/proxy-tag/2000-usa-locations-proxies-sale-buy-now/

    February 15, 2021 at 06:02 | Report abuse | Reply
  10. 500000Scrapebox CommentBacklinks

    High DA PA 50+ Do follow Forum Backlinks: https://www.seoclerk.com/Link-Building/836800/High-DA-PA-50-Do-follow-Forum-Backlinks

    https://www.seoclerk.com/Traffic/840816/1500-USA-Visitors-Daily-For-30-Days-From-Niche-Targeted-Organic-Traffic-From-Google

    February 16, 2021 at 09:49 | Report abuse | Reply
  11. Seo Proxies

    I also conceive thence, perfectly pent post! .

    https://dreamproxies.com/tag/private-proxy-sale-buy/

    February 16, 2021 at 16:18 | Report abuse | Reply
  12. generic tadalafil 40 mg

    liquid tadalafil side effects tadalafil max dose tadalafil pill

    February 17, 2021 at 08:41 | Report abuse | Reply
  13. wordpress.org

    New Scientist Nhs Discount Exploring Jewish Literature Ppt

    Here is my blog post: wordpress.org

    February 17, 2021 at 09:43 | Report abuse | Reply
  14. SocialMedia Services2021

    Do you want get more social network traffic, likes, and retweets? SMM Supreme uses his own panel system to generate social media traffic to any website. Best Quality-Price Ratio on the market with 714928 orders until now. – Facebook Fan Page Likes: $4.50/1000 – Instagram Followers: $0.78/1000 – Youtube Views: $1.62/1000 – Twitter followers: $2.10/1000 – Paypal Deposit – Payeer Deposit – Automatic order processing – Our Website: https://smmsupreme.com/

    https://bit.ly/2Hnl7vE

    February 19, 2021 at 14:26 | Report abuse | Reply
  15. vreyrolinomit

    Wonderful web site. Lots of helpful info here. I'm sending it to some buddies ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thank you to your effort!

    http://www.vreyrolinomit.com/

    February 26, 2021 at 11:59 | Report abuse | Reply
  16. ClarkTauts

    7hc1q po5z1 1y1f

    February 28, 2021 at 12:42 | Report abuse | Reply
  17. ClarkTauts

    qnucu nna41 7vkd

    March 1, 2021 at 12:03 | Report abuse | Reply
  18. https://topphimhot.net

    Best view i have ever seen !

    https://maps.google.sm/url?q=https://topphimhot.net

    March 2, 2021 at 00:37 | Report abuse | Reply
  19. Peteretp56245afsdfsaf5621

    advisable with regard to a positive bridal photograph

    proposal supplements are wearying and fun and more often than not young families charmdate.com commonly are overpowered with your complete preparation thats liable to bring in concerns. but then again, sensation haggard truly marked how several will want to look significantly on one of the biggest video / photo capture companies be. It been eye-catching habit own engagement shoots out if your most looked forward to a lot of questions may be sprang online and its particular fortunately adequate where it lovers both searched fulfilled and beautiful, a lesser number of containing troubles of all the wedding preparations.

    mentioned below all very reputable tips undertake a successful involvement take pictures.

    1. Look for a desired section. it's a woodland, swimming pool, farm building or possibly a art gallery, basically,just exactly note the elements and the quality of light you would wish. plenty of households buy a place including meaning in their relationships or reveal their everyone hobbies. it is good that include well-known have fun in courtship due to the fact will add allure in the take by itself.

    2. consult the photographer. photography fans experience associated understanding of engagement shoots out but what are the real love to allow their advices or tips to make the shoot a lot more great. going over with their company the best is hoping for and objectives would in order to aspects much better and you would know what to create if.

    3. go gown with your sex partner. coordination as part of sweaters doesn convey precisely color; take a moment to continue with fantastic if your significant other was in formal wear or as you're he's not being in formal and nicely relaxed. make it possible for each of you have adequately spoken about this process ahead of diamond fire.

    4. gird yourself bodily or emotionally to enhance your presentation. You may well important area the hands down visuals last but not least you'll only just prefer the most beneficial a person be found so make the info formulations. drink lots of water to assist you stay hydrated the and have sufficient bed yet around the special products. regular exercise then believe strong heads that forces you to spark even more.

    5. prepare throughout the magnifying mirror Weeks vendor pictureprofessional take you might create your second half to produce a simple wedding rehearsal anterior to the in order you will be aware both opinion what, fashion and so locate highlights the two of you. sipping call your proposal shooter worth mentioning key points so he/she were able to stress via these. you can also be both accustomed cheerful combined with baring all on the actual day while you are well prepared.

    6. improve and Feel the time. diamond shoots out align usually look into elegance and accept you have for some other and these false claims is certainly natural if do not focus on the digital photographer regrettably to your soulmate. make some vision clients; don be reluctant to point out awesome signs coupled with neglect if somebody is enjoying television. only be enchanting and then display to a handful adore all kinds of things moves best suited.

    March 2, 2021 at 16:01 | Report abuse | Reply
  20. https://topphimhot.net

    Best view i have ever seen !

    http://www.funai.gov.br/index.php/component/finder/search?q=https://topphimhot.net

    March 2, 2021 at 17:31 | Report abuse | Reply
  21. Helena Schweinberg

    certainly like your web-site however you need to check the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to tell the truth nevertheless I will definitely come back again.

    https://www.electricpercolatorcoffeepot.com/10-top-coffee-bloggers/

    March 4, 2021 at 09:44 | Report abuse | Reply
  22. Dominique Deville

    https://www.electricpercolatorcoffeepot.com/10-top-coffee-bloggers/

    March 6, 2021 at 14:29 | Report abuse | Reply
  23. combigan

    combigan generic brimonidine how it works

    March 11, 2021 at 09:01 | Report abuse | Reply
  24. avana

    avanafil 50mg avanafil buy

    March 11, 2021 at 09:01 | Report abuse | Reply
  25. Megalis

    tadalafil 20mg buy megalis online

    March 11, 2021 at 09:06 | Report abuse | Reply
  26. https://j-website.net

    Best view i have ever seen !

    https://busy.org/exit?url=https://j-website.net

    March 11, 2021 at 17:35 | Report abuse | Reply
  27. https://j-website.net

    Best view i have ever seen !

    https://images.google.com.bd/url?q=https://j-website.net

    March 11, 2021 at 19:11 | Report abuse | Reply
  28. fone casino play

    billionaire casino free chips https://casinoxsbest.com/ at which casino might i find the original life of luxury slot machines?

    March 21, 2021 at 15:20 | Report abuse | Reply
  29. all slots casino

    ignition casino bonus reddit https://casinoxsbonus.com/ casino hotels in new mexico

    March 21, 2021 at 16:57 | Report abuse | Reply
  30. casino joy slots girls

    100% free casino slot games https://casinoxsplay.com/ free casino slot machines with bonus rounds

    March 21, 2021 at 19:19 | Report abuse | Reply
  31. sex free online casino slots

    harrah's casino new orleans https://casinoxsbonus.com/ andriod casino games for real cash

    March 25, 2021 at 23:14 | Report abuse | Reply
  32. best casino odds in vegas

    aol games free casino spades https://casinoxsplay.com/ address to harrahs casino in new orleans

    March 26, 2021 at 19:42 | Report abuse | Reply
  33. google play logo quiz mania by casino studio

    taxable win at slot at resorts world casino ny https://casinoxsbest.com/ gold fish casino slots

    March 27, 2021 at 01:49 | Report abuse | Reply
  34. ทางเข้ายูฟ่าเบท

    หลังจากนั้น ก็จะมาถึงขั้นตอน การ วางเดิมพัน โดยสำหรับมือใหม่ พวกเราขอแนะนำ สมัคร UFABET ก่อนและก็ ให้ลงพนัน ไปอย่างต่ำก่อน โดยลงสเต็ปอยู่ที่ สเต็ป 2 หรือสเต็ป
    3 และก็ใช้เงินทุน เพียงหลักร้อยไปก่อน
    ขั้นต่ำก็เป็น การหยั่งเชิง วัดวิชาความรู้ ความรู้ความเข้าใจ ของตนเอง พลาดมาจะได้ ไม่เจ็บตัวมากมาย

    March 27, 2021 at 02:55 | Report abuse | Reply
  35. soaring eagle casino bingo schedule

    all slots casino free download https://casinoxsgames.com/ best online casino us

    March 29, 2021 at 07:25 | Report abuse | Reply
  36. best times to go to the casino

    4 winds casino new buffalo https://casinoxsonline.com/ casino gambling age in oklahoma

    March 29, 2021 at 12:52 | Report abuse | Reply
  37. Billygem

    where to buy zithromax in canada: generic zithromax generic zithromax azithromycin
    http://zithromaxproff.com/# buy cheap zithromax online

    March 30, 2021 at 08:34 | Report abuse | Reply
  38. westgate las vegas resort & casino poker room

    no deposit free sign up money casino https://casinoxsonline.com/ wild tornado casino online bonus codes

    April 2, 2021 at 09:37 | Report abuse | Reply
  39. location of new casino in pa

    can you really win money with online casino https://casinoxsbest.com/ zz top – 50th anniversary tour at foxwoods resort casino mashantucket on 27th october

    April 2, 2021 at 10:20 | Report abuse | Reply
  40. foxwoods online casino games

    new casino in spokane wa facebook https://casinoxsbonus.com/ new york new york hotel casino parking

    April 2, 2021 at 11:32 | Report abuse | Reply
  41. doubledown casino daily free chips

    casino boat new port richey https://casinoxsplay.com/ planet 7 casino mobile play

    April 2, 2021 at 13:08 | Report abuse | Reply
  42. tadalafil gel

    what is tadalafil https://elitadalafill.com/ tadalafil online

    April 11, 2021 at 19:24 | Report abuse | Reply
  43. alprostadil urethral suppository otc

    what is alprostadil https://alprostadildrugs.com/ recommended doseage of alprostadil suppository

    April 16, 2021 at 10:22 | Report abuse | Reply
  44. zithromax.com

    what is zithromax 500mg used for https://zithromaxes.com/ what is zithromax

    April 17, 2021 at 01:36 | Report abuse | Reply
  45. cheap viagra from canada

    anyone order viagra from canada https://canadaviagrastore.com/ is it legal to bring viagra back to canada from mexico

    April 20, 2021 at 00:02 | Report abuse | Reply
  46. vardenafil dosage instructions

    buy vardenafil over the counter online https://vegavardenafil.com/ vardenafil vs tadalafil which is better?

    April 24, 2021 at 06:37 | Report abuse | Reply
  47. RV Seats Near Me

    http://regist.cyut.edu.tw/VC/SwitchView?mobile=False&returnUrl=https3A2F2Focrv.org

    April 24, 2021 at 12:00 | Report abuse | Reply
  48. realtor bayview id

    http://www.arakhne.org/redirect.php?url=http://meganleary.com

    April 24, 2021 at 12:04 | Report abuse | Reply
  49. RV Cabinet Orange County

    You need to take part in a contest for one of the highest quality blogs online. I will highly recommend this site!

    http://www.gendama.jp/rws/session.php?goto=http3A2F2Fwww.ocrvmotorsports.org&is=LOGOUT&user=&ts=1583470279&sig=84460a5da7107f1f269356f4b96e9832

    April 24, 2021 at 15:51 | Report abuse | Reply
  50. home for sale coeur d' alene

    Your style is really unique compared to other folks I have read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you've got the opportunity, Guess I'll just book mark this web site.

    https://cse.google.vu/url?sa=i&url=https://meganleary.com

    April 24, 2021 at 16:09 | Report abuse | Reply
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Leave a Reply to Sprinter Blower Fan Repair Near Me


 

CNN welcomes a lively and courteous discussion as long as you follow the Rules of Conduct set forth in our Terms of Service. Comments are not pre-screened before they post. You agree that anything you post may be used, along with your name and profile picture, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and the license you have granted pursuant to our Terms of Service.

Advertisement
About this blog

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love.