Always have leg cramps while sleeping? It’s not necessarily a calcium deficiency, it could be a blocked blood vessel ……
Have you ever experienced waking up in the middle of the night with a sudden leg cramp when you were sleeping soundly? Many people think that this is a sign that they have a calcium deficiency, but in addition to calcium deficiency caused by pregnancy and old age, it is possible that the blood vessels in the legs are clogged!
Why do my calves cramp when I fall asleep?
The proper functioning of the leg muscles depends on an adequate blood supply. Blood brings energy and oxygen to the muscles, and at the same time is able to carry away the waste products produced by muscle metabolism, such as lactic acid and carbon dioxide, in order to maintain the appropriate pH level of the muscles and to ensure the normal contraction and diastole of the muscles.
When we go into deep sleep, it is easy to keep a certain sleeping position all the time, which makes the leg veins in a long time in the state of compression, resulting in poor blood reflux, lactic acid will be in the local muscle accumulation, which in turn stimulates the nerve endings, so that the muscle excitability abnormally high, causing muscle spasms. In severe cases, this can lead to life-threatening deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities.In addition to this, when the body is in a cold environment, the brain also regulates the blood vessels on the surface of the body through the nervous system to contract, causing poor blood circulation in the legs.
How to get quick relief when you get a calf cramp?
PART.1
Stretch your muscles
When a calf cramp occurs, slowly massage or hold the palm of the foot on the side of the cramp with both hands and stretch it toward the body, while slowly straightening the knee, for about 20 seconds, which can be repeated several times.
PART.2
Adjust your sleeping position
Change your sleeping position or put a pillow under your feet to help return blood to your heart.
PART.3
Hot compress
A hot towel or hot water bag can be applied to the cramped calf area for 15-20 minutes to raise the temperature of the calf muscles and promote blood circulation.
Daily exposure to red light to improve circulation and prevent cramps
Preventing leg cramps and promoting blood circulation on a daily basis is key. Numerous studies have also shown that red light can promote vasodilation through endothelial-derived vasoactive substances and increase catalase activity in the mitochondria, promoting cellular metabolism and oxygen radical scavenging, thus improving microvascular circulation and regulating the oxidation-antioxidant balance.
Based on red light therapy, MERICAN health cabin, by irradiating the whole body, can play a variety of biological roles, activate a variety of enzyme activities in the mitochondria, speed up and increase the synthesis of ATP, provide more energy for the body, increase blood oxygen saturation, thus promoting blood circulation in the lower limbs, reduce lactic acid generation, reduce muscle soreness and fatigue.
Finally, although “leg cramps in the middle of the night” is a common phenomenon, it is also an alarm from the body, reminding us to pay attention to the recent state of health. If the cramps are frequent and cannot be relieved, it is recommended to seek medical attention.
