Health

Isolated cramps (called essential) are common and benign. Simple advice can prevent or alleviate them.

What is it? A cramp is an involuntary, localized muscle contraction, with a sudden onset, painful, and transient.

This term is sometimes used in common language, wrongly, for other symptoms.

I have cramps when I do sports, why? Cramps are among the most common muscle pains in athletes. They occur during or after significant effort.

A cramp is due to muscle fatigue. During prolonged effort, the muscle's energy reserves are depleted, metabolic waste accumulates (particularly lactic acid) and the distribution of calcium, magnesium and sodium ions, which allow muscle fibers to contract, is affected; the muscle, contracted, becomes increasingly rigid and eventually no longer relaxes.

Factors that aggravate muscle fatigue include age, cold, poor hydration, excessive consumption of coffee, tea or alcohol.

How can I avoid them?

• Warm up before starting your sports activity, gradually working the muscles that will be used.
• Hydrate yourself properly before, during and after exercise.
• Eat more foods rich in magnesium (certain mineral waters, chocolate, nuts, etc.).

How can I get rid of them?

• Stretch the contracted muscle.

I have had cramps since I became pregnant, why? Blood circulation is less effective due to the pressure exerted by the uterus on the main veins. As a result, the muscles are less well oxygenated and tire more easily, leading to cramps.

How can I avoid them?

• Hydrate yourself properly throughout the day.
• Practice moderate and regular physical activity from the beginning of your pregnancy.

How can I get rid of them?

• Stretch the contracted muscle.
• Follow your doctor's advice and prescriptions, do not take any dietary supplements without medical advice.

My elderly relative often complains of cramps, is it serious? Your loved one most certainly suffers from nocturnal cramps of the lower limbs, common in the elderly. The causes may be poor posture or an unusual posture prolonged during the day (squatting), a new exercise.

Poor blood circulation, frequent nutritional deficiencies and impaired cellular metabolism explain why the elderly are particularly sensitive to cramps.

How can I avoid them?

• Your loved one should try to maintain a balanced diet with sufficient nutritional intake.
• They should remember to hydrate regularly.

How can I make them go away?

• Your loved one should practice muscle stretching.
• If their cramps are very disabling and affect their quality of life, their doctor may prescribe specific medications that can relieve them or microelement supplements.

Follow these tips in case of cramps, but if one day other signs are associated with them, speak to your doctor again.

Also consult if the symptoms persist and if the cramps are frequent, disabling, occur mainly at night, during moderate effort or do not give way to stretching.

Be careful, many medications can cause cramps...