Some people have to wake up suddenly at night, not to urinate, but to experience muscle spasms in one or both legs, which makes them uncomfortable and uncomfortable, due to the excruciating pain resulting from them.
In the following report, “The Consulto” reviews the causes of muscle tension in the leg during sleep, according to the “Sleep Education” website of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the “Sleep Foundation” sleep organization.
Also read: Muscle tension during sleep – 7 diseases it reveals
Categories most susceptible to muscle cramps in the leg during sleep
Sleep-related leg cramps can occur at any age, but they are most common in the following groups:
Elderly people: 30% of people over 60 years of age have muscle cramps in the leg during sleep, and they experience it at least once every two months.
Pregnant women: 40% of them experience muscle cramps in the leg while sleeping, but it disappears following giving birth.
– Children and adolescents: Only 7% suffer from muscle tension in the leg during sleep during childhood and adolescence, and it does not happen to them frequently.
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Causes of muscle tension in the leg during sleep
In addition to pregnancy and advancing age, muscle tension in the leg during sleep may indicate some diseases, including:
Diabetes.
Arthritis.
– restless leg syndrome.
Heart disease.
Circulatory disorders.
Metabolic disorders.
Endocrine disorders.
Cirrhosis.
– Kidney disease.
– Osteoporosis.
– narrowing of the spinal canal.
Nerve damage in the legs.
Fibromyalgia.
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In addition, there are other causes of muscle tension in the leg during sleep that must be taken into account, including:
Take some medications.
Drinking alcohol.
Standing for long hours.
– Lack of drinking water.
– Playing sports.
Also read: Causes of muscle pain following exercise – how to get rid of it
Symptoms associated with muscle cramps in the leg during sleep
After the occurrence of a muscle strain in the leg, a disturbing group of symptoms appears on the person, which may make him – in severe cases – unable to return to sleep, most notably:
Severe leg pain for 10 minutes.
Difficulty moving the leg.
Leg swelling.
– Dull leg pain persists for several hours.
And if a person feels pain in his leg or foot in the evening, there is a high probability that he will be exposed to muscle spasms associated with sleep, as happens with patients with restless legs syndrome.
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Treatment of muscle tension in the leg during sleep
Muscle tension in the leg while sleeping can be overcome by the following:
Gently massage the leg to help the muscles relax.
Place warm compresses on the leg to relieve pain and reduce swelling.
Move the leg gently.
Walking on the heel of the foot.
– Drink pickle water.
Take muscle relaxants or analgesics.
Please note that these instructions temporarily relieve muscle tension in the leg. Therefore, the patient must visit a specialist doctor to find out the cause of the cramps and get the appropriate treatment.
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Ways to prevent muscle tension in the leg while sleeping
To prevent muscle tension in the leg while sleeping, there is no substitute for following some instructions, the most important of which are:
Drink plenty of water to keep the body hydrated and avoid dehydration.
Do stretching exercises before bed.
Take a warm shower before bed.
– Eat foods rich in magnesium or get its nutritional supplements under the supervision of a doctor, because it contributes to muscle relaxation.
For a list of natural sources of magnesium, click here here.
