Why Do My Legs Ache At Night

Table of Contest

• What is causing your legs aches at night then?
• What Causes Legs Aches at Night
  • Other causes of Legs Aches at Night
• What Else Causes Leg Cramps at Night?
• What is Causing Your Legs Aches at Night While Sleeping – Does it Bother You?
• Finding a Leg Cramps Remedy is Easy
• What is Another Leg Cramps Remedy?

If you have ever had them you probably have wondered what is causing your legs aches at night and especially in the case that you play sports or are frequently hitting the gym. To give you a better idea of what leg cramps are, these are actually sudden contraction of the muscles on your legs that are painful when they are triggered. Leg cramps are sometimes referred to as “Charley Horse” and it hits three prime areas in your legs which are your calf’s, hamstrings and quadriceps. Leg cramps can go on for about a minute or more depending on the severity of the cramp. Some experience leg cramps while they are sleeping as well which causes sleep intrusion.

What is causing your legs aches at night then?

Lack of proper hydration is one of the leading causes of this particular problem. If you do not drink a lot of water within the day, the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that your body needs cannot be transported throughout your body hence leg cramps. Another possible source of leg cramps is lack of proper minerals such as magnesium, calcium and potassium. Muscle fatigue, heavy exercising, imbalance of electrolytes, and medications are also possible culprits of leg cramps. If you want to avoid experiencing leg cramps make sure that you drink plenty of water and avoid straining your muscles too much.

Now that you have a better idea on what causes leg cramps, it is about time that you learn how to treat this problem. If you are not drinking a lot of water then it is about time that you change this behavior. You should start increasing your water intake to fully replenish the liquid inside your body so you won’t trigger leg cramps while walking, standing or even sleeping. You can even try using ice packs to slow down the triggers that lead to muscle cramps. Another step to take for you to combat leg cramps is to change your diet into one that is filled with the proper vitamins and minerals that your body needs. Include foods that are high in calcium and potassium to boost muscle strength.

Other possible treatments include massaging the area that is commonly hit by leg cramps. Heat compress can also alleviate the symptoms of leg cramps easily if massaging didn’t remove the pain. If the pain and the contractions still persist, you should visit your doctor to determine whether there are any other possible causes for these leg cramps. Depending on the diagnosis of the doctor, you will be given certain medications so you can start treating the pain and the cramps that often occur. This way, you will be able to relieve yourself of any problems in your legs so you can enjoy the usual things that you love without having to worry about leg cramps from being triggered.

Learn all there is to know the causes behind leg cramps so you can prevent them from happening in the first place. It is about time that you alleviate the symptoms as soon as possible so you can start enjoying your days and nights even more. Now that you know what causes leg cramps you can say goodbye to all the pains and aches by drinking water and eating right.

What Causes Legs Aches at Night

If you are experiencing legs cramps at night, they probably wake you up from a deep, restful sleep. They can be very painful like a charlie horse, though fleeting, and sometimes feel as though they just won’t go away. It is possible that several different causes of leg cramps. Aside from any possible medical condition, like a blood clot or atherosclerosis issues, or possibly even an exacerbated spider vein, it could be from increased physical activity, pregnancy, a change in medications, or dehydration.

No matter what is causing your legs aches at night, you want a way to stop them as fast as possible. The best form of treatment, though, is prevention instead of a cure. Start by increasing your water intake. Muscle cramping is much more common in people who lack enough water. You also need to increase your potassium, which may be found in bananas or spinach. By increasing your intake of both water and potassium, you allow your muscles to relax more easily at the end of a day.

In the case of pregnancy, Vericose veins, or just a long day standing on your feet, you can try placing your legs up a wall, like sitting in reverse. This is actually a yoga pose, so you can look it up to see what it looks like. Essentially, you lie on your back with your buttocks as close to a wall as you can get them, and then let your feet rest against the wall. Having your heart below your legs in this way really helps to let old stagnant blood drain down from the legs and back to the heart to be re-oxygenated. It helps tremendously with swollen and cramping lower extremities.

Legs aches at night can affect any muscle group from the quadriceps (front portion of the thigh) to the hamstrings (back portion of the thigh) to the feet and at times, upper extremities. Most commonly, it is experienced at the gastrocnemius muscles or the calves.

The pain is not only confined to a specific age but can affect everybody. However, studies have shown that most people who suffer from these debilitating cramps are those middle-aged to the elderly. Even if there are no specific causes determined to cause the leg cramps, healthcare professionals and researchers have identified contributing factors that could be linked and associated with the nocturnal cramps.

Most often, the cramps are connected to an injury or injuries obtained from the straining or spraining of the muscles involved. Additionally, if there are problems that exist in other organs near that specific muscle, then problems can also occur. The ligaments, tendons and bones as well as the nerves also take part in the effective functioning of the muscles.

During an exercise, a person’s body undergo several movements; sudden twisting and turning can contribute to the strain or sprain. Obviously, when one someone overindulges in the performance of the exercises, the problem begins. Moreover, when someone does not perform stretching before and after the exercises, trouble could ensue.

Other causes of Legs Aches at Night

There are also other conditions like pregnancy, obesity, poor posture, flat feet and unhealthy lifestyles that greatly affect legs aches at night. Unhealthy lifestyle will pertain to the use of nicotine and even the preference of caffeine and alcohol over water. In some instances, the underlying factors are medical conditions like diabetes, anemia and hormonal problems such as Addison’s disease and hypothyroidism.

Certain medications also affect the said condition like anti-hypertensive and cholesterol-lowering drugs; those that alter the elements present in the blood also play a connection. The reduction in the levels of electrolytes like potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and even phosphorus are crucial and may result to the cramps. As always, the balance of fluids and electrolytes in the body should be maintained.

On the contrary, there are studies that propose the possibility of a disorder in the brain. This is because the cramps usually occur when an individual is asleep, which some scientists think is a malfunction in the control system in the body. If you are having problems with legs aches at night which of course you would have, your doctor is the reliable person to talk to

What Else Causes Leg Cramps at Night?

Another thing that can cause legs aches at night is diabetes or an artery disease. Other causes can be metabolic in nature, such as Hypothyroidism or even failing kidneys. If you try increasing water, and potassium as well as elevating your legs above the heart, and your leg cramps don’t go away, you should consult your doctor to make sure there are no other health concerns. Sometimes it is not a health concern but a hormonal issue, such as when you are pregnant, taking birth control pills or blood pressure medications.

Gentle exercise can be very beneficial if your leg cramps are not caused by excess physicality. Try going for an evening walk or swimming if you have joint problems. This can be a great relief for a stiff sore body, and helps to move blood through the pelvis and legs, decreasing leg cramping. Also try bathing in a warm bath before sleeping at night and add Epson or chamomile, to help soothe worn out or swollen extremities. Above all things, be gentle with yourself and do visit a doctor if your leg aches return after trying the things listed herein. They are more than likely just fatigued or dehydrated muscles, but it is better to rule out any other health conditions if your legs aches at night persist.

Why Do My Legs Ache At Night While Sleeping – Does it Bother You?

Nobody, not even the rich elite people listed in Forbes can be spared from legs aches at night. Perhaps saying that leg cramps is the greatest equalizer can actually be very logical.

Regardless of your belief and status in life, you will be affected by legs aches at night; day and night people do get these painful and powerful muscle twitches but most of all, individuals experience the condition during the night. When leg cramps while sleeping bother you, what should you exactly do? Are there options you could benefit from apart from the advice given by your doctor and aside from the medications you are currently taking?

What is causing your legs aches at night while sleeping and ways to prevent it

Thankfully, there are answers that have been suggested to alleviate and also to prevent leg cramps from bothering you when you are sleeping specially in the middle of the night. A rather quirky yet unbelievably true relief reflexologists offer is to pinch your upper lip in between your index finger and thumb as if you are trying to avoid an offending smell.

Hold it for about 30 seconds until you are able feel that there is no cramping. Also, as you already are bothered in your sleep, it is a good idea to stretch your legs gradually. You will be able to help your muscles relax thereby, making the cramps disappear. Gently massage the affected area with oil using your hands but make sure that your hands are warm.

If you are having a hard time doing this, let another person do it for you. If not, alternate the application of a warm or cold compress; about five minutes for the warm compress or five seconds for the cold compress. For some people, just soaking in a tub with warm water works miracles. This procedure can also be done to consequenly prevent the incidence of cramps.

Leg cramps while sleeping which is of course very worrisome can be ultimately prevented somehow by making sure that you are hydrated; well-hydrated that is, before sleeping. These days, most people go to sleep after a party drinking alcoholic beverages and other caffeine-laden drinks. Be wary that both alcohol and caffeine induce dehydration. If you are not aware of it, remember the last time you got drunk and how many times you urinated at that time. So, even before going to bed after hitting the clubs, make sure that you drink plenty of water. Additionally, do not forget to take your shoes off and change to your pajamas as constricting fashionwear can prove to be a precursor for legs aches at night to occur.

As preventive measures, make sure that you try to ward off smoke in your system as there exists a link between nicotine and cramps. It is also important to exercise a lot when leg cramps while sleeping bother you but as always, do not overdo it and make sure that you engage in stretching procedures even before you hit they gym.

Remember that injuries to the muscles or other organs indirectly affecting the muscles like tendons, ligaments and tendons are the usual causes of straining and spraining resulting to leg cramps that will bother you for the rest of the night.

Finding a Leg Cramps Remedy is Easy

Leg Cramps can be caused by many different things – from pregnancy, to muscle exhaustion and dehydration due to increased physical activity. They can also be caused by just standing or sitting in the same position every day. Sometimes, leg cramps can be caused by a more serious health condition like diabetes or a blood clot, Parkinson’s disease or hypothyroidism, but outside of these more serious causes, leg cramps can be remedied fairly easily.

One of the best leg cramps remedies is massage. Since the body is experiencing additional energetic demands during pregnancy or while training for an athletic event, it needs extra help in disposing of toxins that accumulate it the muscle fibers. A massage will help the fluids of the body stay moving and help to alleviate cramping. This is especially important during pregnancy when the extra weight of the developing fetus can put additional strain on the lower extremities as the fetus rests on the pelvic bones, strains the hips and causes additional pressure on the major veins and arteries which supply blood to the legs, and feet.

What is Another Leg Cramps Remedy?

Another thing you can do to help with leg cramps is to increase your potassium intake as well as calcium and magnesium. This leg cramps remedy has three elements that are important for regulating hydration in the body. Even if you drink a lot of water – which you should also do, as hydration is an important remedy for leg cramps – your body will not absorb the fluids it needs without a proper balance of these three trace elements. Calcium, potassium and magnesium also keep the muscles strong so that they can detoxify themselves as needed. The Ph in your body is very important for proper hydration of the muscles, bones, and cells. If your body is too acidic, and not alkaline enough, then the water you drink will not find its way into the building blocks of the body. Increase your water intake, but also take a supplement for calcium, magnesium and potassium if your diet lacks these elements.

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Another legs aches at night remedy that is a leg cramps natural cure is to elevate your legs and feet. You can do this in several ways. You can lie down on the floor, and let your legs rest up a wall. You can prop big pillows under your legs when you lie down to sleep at night. You can sit on your sofa in front of your television and prop your legs up with several pillows in order to keep your legs above your heart. This is the most important aspect. When your legs are above the level of the heart, it allows gravity to help the heart do its job of pumping fresh, oxygenated blood through the body. It essentially gives your heart a break and that increased oxygen in the blood stream will reduce leg cramps, swelling and any pain associated with fatigued muscles. A leg cramps remedy like the one just describes has been found to be very successful.

As with any health remedy, you need to make sure that there is not a more serious problem causing your ailment. Once those are ruled out, you can follow these simple steps to increase the health and vitality of your body, especially your legs and feet. Get exercise. Drink more water. Don’t sit or stand in the same position for too long. If you sit at a computer all day, take breaks and walk around. If you stand all day, find a stool or chair to sit in once in a while, or do some standing stretches. As soon as you get home, elevate your feet. Using a leg cramps remedy like Increase your potassium, calcium and magnesium should make your leg cramps should be a thing of the past.

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