What Causes Leg Cramps at Night While Sleeping – Causes of Nighttime Leg Cramps

Leg cramps at night also referred to as nocturnal leg cramps or NLC, are quite common in men, women and children. Nighttime leg cramps are caused usually due to tired muscles, inactivity during the day or certain medical conditions.

Sagar Hospital, the well-known Multispeciality hospital in Bangalore, has treated many patients with either normal or severe leg cramps successfully.

What are Leg cramps?

Leg cramps are spontaneous muscle spasms that can occur anywhere in the leg. As a result, themuscles tense up and cause discomfort accompanied by moderate to severe pain and tightness in the area. Leg cramps are usually common in the calf area.

Nighttime leg cramps can be extremely painful since they can disrupt your sleep and break your sleep cycle. The feeling of discomfort can extend right through to the next day or for days too.

Though stretching exercises can provide some relief, if the pain persists, it is recommended to visit your nearest orthopaedic hospital in Bangalore immediately.

What can cause Leg cramps at Night?

Ortho specialists associated with the best orthopaedic hospital in Bangalore attribute the causes of Leg cramps to the following factors:

• Overstressed muscles

Studies have indicated that overexertion, such as exercising the muscles very intensely for a long time, may cause some people to experience more cramping later in the day.

• Inactivity during the day

Extended working hours especially desk working where you have to sit for longer durations can lead to physical inactivity. This can in turn cause leg cramps when you go to bed at night.

• Body posture

According tosome ofthe best orthopaedic surgeons in Bangalore associated with Sagar Hospital, body posture can be a major contributor to leg cramps at night as sitting or lying down in a certain way restricts blood flow to the legs, leading to cramps.

• Age factor

If your work requires you to stand for longer periods, it can put a considerable amount of stress on your muscles leading to cramps at night. This is commonly observed in citizens above 60 years of age.

• Side effect of medications/li>

  Certain chronic medical conditions like Diabetes, Kidney Failure, Cardiovascular diseases, alcohol-related disorders and thyroid can also lead to leg cramps at night. Patients having symptoms related to the above conditions must seek an Ortho specialist’s advice immediately.

What are the possible treatment options available for leg cramps?

Usually, mild leg cramps ease on their own through some mild exercises. In case the pain is severe then your doctor might prescribe some medications which are available over the counter. Drinking plenty of water can prevent leg cramps to a large extent.