Preventing night cramps in your legs

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Do you ever wake up at night with a burning cramp in your leg? It's not restless leg syndrome, but it could be one of the most common nighttime annoyances.

Sleep tight? Not if you have tight muscles. They're called night cramps, leg muscle spasms that strike as many as 60% of us. They're not life threatening, but they might feel that way when, night after night, they rob you of sleep.

When it's bed time for Christina Fitzsimmons, it's also time that she expects to be awakened just as she falls asleep by night cramps in her legs.

"It's not as much painful as it is really uncomfortable. The most significant thing that it's doing in my life is the way it's affecting my sleep," Fitzsimmons said.

It happens six nights out of seven; the achy pain is in her left thigh.

"I went to the doctor saying I had restless leg syndrome," Fitzsimmons said.

But that sleep problem is different.

"Restless leg is just an urge to move the legs not associated with pain or contractions of the muscles," said Dr. Gerald Lee, Englewood Hospital.

Dr. Lee says the cause of night cramps isn't known, it could be muscle nerves firing out of control. Patients with diabetes and thyroid issues may have it commonly. Prevention is the key.

While you're shopping, stop by the bottled water isle, and look for tonic water.

Tonic water contains quinine. With some juice for flavor at bedtime, it may relax muscles and prevent cramps. Vitamin B supplements are one of Dr. Lee's preventatives. Staying well hydrated may eliminate the problem.

Another strategy is a few minutes of aerobic activity before bedtime, bot a full workout that will keep you awake. Just a few minutes gets the blood flowing to the muscles and may relax them. Stretching works to relax a cramp if it happens. But remember, don't self-diagnose.

"It's always wise to see your doctor. Well, let the doctor decide if it's leg cramps or another reason for the pain that you're having," Dr. Lee said.

Dr. Lee says that problems with blood flow to the legs are generally not a cause of night cramps.

Those kinds of circulation issue usually produce pain with intense activity such as fast walking or running.

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sleep, health news, dr. jay adlersberg

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