Is your sleep interrupted by leg cramps? Here are some of the most surprising causes

February 4, 2024

If you wake up in the middle of the night with painful leg cramps, the condition can be scary and confusing.

You might think it’s because of the position you’re sleeping in, but there’s a lot more to know about nighttime leg cramps than that.

In the original interview, two doctors were “enthusiastic” about the causes and treatments for nighttime leg cramps.

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Here’s what you need to know:

What are nighttime leg cramps?

Nighttime leg cramps refer to rapid stiffening of the leg muscles.

A charley horse is a sudden, painful, involuntary muscle spasm or spasm, notes health.com. It usually occurs in the legs, especially the calves, but it can actually occur in any muscle.

“Sometimes the cramps last for a few minutes, but I’ve had patients whose leg cramps lasted longer than that,” said one doctor. (St. Petersburg)

Dr. Mike Sevilla, a family physician at Salem Family Practice Center in Salem, Ohio, said the symptoms of painful leg cramps can sometimes wake a person up.

“The cramps can last a few minutes, but some patients have had leg cramps that last longer,” he says.

Who gets leg cramps at night?

Nighttime seizures become more common as we get older, and unfortunately, they can become more frequent, says Sarah Austin, M.D., associate professor of neurology at the Dell School of Medicine at the University of Texas at Austin. He told FOX News Digital.

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She is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.

If you experience frequent leg cramps, your doctor should check to see if your thyroid hormone levels are normal.

Most of the time, nighttime leg cramps just happen, but there are several causes, she said.

as a person. “That’s the most common cause. Everyone gets it from time to time,” she says.

“If you notice that your cramps are associated with muscle weakness in your limbs, or if they consistently interfere with your ability to walk, you should let your doctor know.” (St. Petersburg)

Hypothyroidism. If you experience frequent cramps, your doctor should test whether your thyroid hormone levels are normal, she said.

Dehydration or very strenuous exercise. “If you are sweating excessively or are dehydrated, try drinking more fluids, preferably ones that contain electrolytes,” she warned.

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Restless leg syndrome. People with restless leg syndrome seem to describe some of their symptoms as cramps, she said.

“If you feel like you’re constantly waking up after a few hours of sleep and have symptoms such as cramping, tingling, burning, or pain in your legs, which are relieved when you get up and walk around, you may have restless legs syndrome.” “It’s sexual,” Austin says. He said.

“If you have two or three seizures every night for several weeks or months, you should see a neurologist.”

Consult your doctor for further evaluation.

Are leg cramps a sign of a serious illness?

Dr. Austin says some neuromuscular diseases involve more frequent muscle spasms, but this is less common.

“They are very rare,” she said.

There are also prescription drug options for nighttime leg cramps, but “patients should check with their physician before considering prescription drugs.” (St. Petersburg)

“But if you notice that you’re having two or three seizures every night for weeks or months, you should see a neurologist,” she advised.

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“Alternatively, if you notice that your cramps are associated with muscle weakness in your limbs, or if your cramps consistently interfere with your ability to walk, get your doctor’s attention.”