Muscle Cramps
3 Common Causes & What To Do About Them
Do you experience crippling muscle cramps? Do you awaken in the night with a sense of dread as the unmistakable tightening starts to creep over toes, a calf muscle, hamstring, or a foot arch?
Fortunately, muscle cramps don’t happen to everyone, but if they do happen to you, that early tingling can suddenly harden into a full-blown, agonizing charley horse that sometimes feels like it will tear the muscle off the bone.
The soreness after a muscle cramp can last for days. Some people may experience muscle cramps on a nightly basis, contributing to severe insomnia and potentially increasing their night-time risk of falling.
If this happens to you, the following information will help. We’ll go into 3 key things to explore to get muscle cramps under control.
Muscle cramps are a common complaint in medical practices. While it is difficult to assess exactly how many people suffer from muscle cramps, some estimates are as high as 33% of all adults over age 50.
In this episode, we take a deeper dive into 3 Common Causes and What To Do to kick your muscle cramps to the curb.
Let's dive in!
With every blog post, we like to equip you with a POWERFUL free resource that goes with the episode, providing you with additional education and empowering you to take action on what you’ve just learned.
Since we're talking about Muscle Cramps and what to do about them in this episode, we put together a 1 Page Summary of Easy Exercises that can help as well - with a Video Guide!
DOWNLOAD it now and Get Started!
Muscle Cramps: 3 Common Causes
Muscle cramps are a common complaint in medical practices. While it is difficult to assess exactly how many people suffer from muscle cramps, some estimates are as high as 33% of all adults over age 50.
While there are many potential causes of muscle cramps, let's explore the 3 Common Causes:
Muscle Cramps: Medications
Taking certain medications can be the culprit of your muscle cramps. Talk with your doctor if you think this may be you.
There are several classes of medications, including pseudoephedrine (a drug used to treat nasal congestion), statins (medications that treat high cholesterol), and diuretics (medications used to treat high blood pressure) that can cause involuntary
muscle cramping.
If this is the case for you, continue reading because the following ideas on what to do about muscle cramps will help even if your muscle cramps are caused by medication side effects!
Muscle Cramps: Being Dehydrated
Being
dehydrated is one of the top reasons people get muscle cramps. Dehydration is a
chronic problem, especially in the US and especially as we get older.
One simple way to check if you are well-hydrated is to note the color of your urine. If it is dark yellow, you need to be drinking more water. If it is pale, you are probably drinking enough water.
Another simple test is to pinch the skin on the back of your hand between your thumb and forefinger for about five seconds. Called the skin turgor test, when you release the pinched skin, it should rapidly go back into place. If it stays “tented up” or moves slowly back into position you may be dehydrated.
No matter - everyone can benefit from drinking more water! A good rule of thumb is 1/2 your body weight in ounces everyday. Ex: 150 pounds, 75 ounces of water daily.
Finally, using this really fun water jug may give the incentive you need to get your water in everyday.
You can also infuse your water with fruit or veggies (cucumbers are my favorite!) to make it taste better! Add a pinch of sea salt to help your body absorb the water and keep you out of the bathroom
Muscle Cramps: Imbalance in Your Electrolytes
Electrolytes = Salts.
And not just Sodium!
Many people have not only heeded nutritional
advice to avid fat for years (equally as damaging), they have also avoided salt
for years. This is especially true as we get older and health health becomes
more of a focus.
But there is much more to the salt story than just
plain old table salt, or sodium. There are several salts available to us from
the environment, such as calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium!
By adding a full spectrum of salts to your diet -
not just sodium from iodized table salt - allows your muscles to properly
contract and relax, eliminating muscle cramps.
One easy way to get more electrolytes is by using
a full spectrum salt for your food. I'm talking a really good Sea Salt. My favorite
is Real Salt...don't be afraid to add real sea salt to your food!
You can also try adding a pinch to lass of water.
Nervous about salting your food or just don't like the taste? Epsom salt baths
- yep! - can be especially helpful! A magnesium lotion can also help as the
body absorbs magnesium through the skin.
BONUS--> Add Rebounding!
A Rebounder or Mini-Trampoline is a great way to increase circulation and improve lymphatic flow which can also help alleviate muscle cramps!
P.S. If you're a member you've seen one of these at the Center
Here is a link to the one we use and the one we recommend!
Let's Recap: What To Do About Muscle Cramps
In Closing...
Hopefully, this training on 3 Common Causes of Muscle Cramps & What To Do About It was helpful and you now have some resources to help if or when they strike!
Always remember how important it is to feel your best and say NO to back & joint pain, bad posture, poor balance, stiffness...the list goes on. Especially when it can be so easy to feel good!
On that note, don't forget to grab the 5 Easy Exercises for ANY Body Summary & Video Guide.
After going through 5 Easy Exercises, you'll see how truly easy and simple these are - and feel the difference right away!
You can download this FREE resource by clicking the yellow button below 👇👇👇
Some More Awesome Resources For Ya!
📌 Want To Learn More About The OsteoStrong Program?
Watch this 10 Minute Video! CLICK HERE
5 Easy Exercises ANYBODY Can Do - Read More Here
Need to improve your Strength, Posture, or Balance?
How about Reduce Back & Joint Pain or Fall Prevention?
Want better flexibility & Agility?
The answer: 5 Easy Exercises Anybody Can Do!
How About A FREE Session?
Come and experience our program for yourself!
Take advantage of a complimentary session.
Try our system first-hand, get your questions answered,
and meet some really awesome people!
📌 Stay Connected!
Like our FaceBook Community to stay-up-to-date on our
center happenings so you never miss a beat!
📌 Our Favorites - Learn More Here
Many people ask us to share our favorite products...everything from our work outfits, health & wellness products, favorite books, wellness tools, and more! Instead of listing out each item individually here on the blog or on a random piece of paper, we made some really cool "KITS" that you can check out.
We update these favorites all the time to make sure you're getting the 'latest & greatest' in what we personally use & love.
📌 Join Our List!
Join Our Email List to get the latest News, Resources, Tips, & Updates!
+ show Comments
- Hide Comments
add a comment