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Muscle Cramps - Causes, Symptoms And Home Remedies

Painful muscular contractions are called cramps. They can occur at any time and can be very painful and uncomfortable. A muscle cramp is an involuntarily and forcibly contracted muscle that does not relax.

What are the causes of muscle cramps?

These usually occur in the leg muscles after a particular heavy bout of unscheduled, strenuous muscular activity or exercise, when a person has perspired a lot and the weather is very warm. Intense cold can also cause cramps. Continuous use of a certain group of muscles, as in writing, can cause cramps in the fingers and hands. Cramps are often caused by a lack of potassium, resulting in an electrytic imbalance.

Another cause may be a deficiency in hesperidin, one of the bioflavonoids (sometimes called vitamin P), naturally occurring nutrients usually found in association with vitamin C. These bioflavonoids, including Hesperidin, Citrin, Rutin, Flavones, Flavonals, Calechin and Quercetin, were found to be essential in correcting the night leg cramps. Some common causes are:

• Muscle fatigue.
• Heavy exercise.
• Dehydration.
• Pregnancy.
• Heat Cramps.

What are the symptoms of muscle cramps?

Possible symptoms of muscle cramps may includes:

• Sudden pain.
• Cramps are more likely to occur in the heat and during strenuous exercise
• May occur at nighttime during vigorous exercise.
• Cramps often occur after exercise, standing, or lying down for long periods of time.
• Leg cramps are very common in pregnant women and the elderly, but they can strike anyone.

Natural home remedies for the treatment for muscle cramps.

• Gentle massaging of the area which has cramps gives relief. Maintain adequate hydration levels. After exercise, drink water to which salt and sugar have both been added. Some women get cramps in their legs during pregnancy. This only needs gentle massage to get rid of the problem.
• Stretching before exercise.
• Apple cider vinegar : Drink a mixture of two teaspoons of vinegar and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm water. Apple cider vinegar is high in potassium.
• Drink plenty fluids.
• Ice can bring down the muscle inflammation, but if the pain is very bad use heat.
• Eat Pineapple, pineapple contains the enzyme called bromelain which helps repair injured tissue.

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