Why Do Muscle Cramps Happen and How to Treat Them Fast?

Muscle cramps are also called muscular spasms because your muscle literally tightens itself up and pulls too much causing severe pain. The muscle doesn’t know how to relax. We don’t know why it happens and waiting for it to go away is not a great treatment strategy. This normally happens in the legs, back, arms or abdomen (shark week right?) etc. though it can affect any muscle really. Any of us can fall victim to a cramp but some people are more susceptible to it. The good news is that they do get better with time and it does not mean that you have some other serious underlying medical condition. But in other cases, getting medical help is a better choice.

Why Do Muscle Cramps Happen?

Some factors can cause muscle cramps more readily than others and they are- dehydration, muscular fatigue, trying to exercise with pain, stress or anxiety. As mentioned above, some people who are at higher risk of dealing with muscle cramps are pregnant women, overweight individuals, athletes and older people in general. If you have nervous disorders or thyroid hormone related problems, you may get cramps more often too.

How To Stop Muscle Cramps Quickly-

You should stop doing any sort of activity and try to relax your muscles by massaging them or by using a hot compress or ice. If it is the legs for example, then you can try to bend the affected limb while also putting your weight on it. This will cause the muscle to relax and stretch. Muscular fatigue due to excessive exercise is caused due to lactic acid buildup. So, stretching and doing proper warm up sequences before working out are very crucial.

Are Muscle Cramps A Sign Of Something Serious?

Not really. It is pretty normal for most of us to have to deal with it. But for some others, it can be an issue if there is a problem with blood circulation, metabolism, nerves or hormones. If you keep getting such spasms often along with loss in muscle tone or weakness then it is time you talk to a doctor.

Conclusion

Muscle cramps can be a literal pain for us to deal with and most of us try to look for help real quick. Stretching and massage do help but drugs like muscle relaxants do help a lot even if they take some time to take effect. The unpredictability is a major issue obviously, but if you get it often then you should consult a doctor soon. It may be due to a metabolic, nervous, hormonal disorder or may also be an indication for another condition like cirrhosis of the liver. Better to be safe than sorry right? That is our best piece of advice for you right here!