Musclw neuromyotonia: evidence for autoantibodies directed against K channels of peripheral nerves. Kishnani PS, Chen YT. Winkelman JW. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol.

Medical conditions causing muscle cramps -

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Request Appointment. Symptoms Night leg cramps. Sections Basics Definition Causes When to see a doctor. Definition Causes When to see a doctor. Products and services. Causes By Mayo Clinic Staff. Thank you for subscribing!

Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. Show references Winkelman JW. Nocturnal leg cramps. Accessed Nov.

Merck Manual Professional Version. Delacour C, et al. Association between physical activity and nocturnal leg cramps in patients over 60 years old: A case-control study. Scientific Reports. Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press.

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Medical Professionals. Clinical Trials. Mayo Clinic Alumni Association. Refer a Patient. Executive Health Program. It is usually caused by anxiety. Most muscle cramps resolve after a few seconds or minutes.

There has been very little research done to work out which treatment works best, but treatment options include:. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only.

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Home Bones, muscles and joints. Muscle cramp. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. What is a muscle cramp? Symptoms of muscle cramp Minerals and electrolytes Risk factors for muscle cramp Muscle cramp associated with medical conditions Treatment options for muscle cramp Prevention strategies Where to get help.

Symptoms of muscle cramp The symptoms of a muscle cramp include: sudden sensation of uncontrollable and painful spasms in the muscle muscle twitching. Minerals and electrolytes Muscle tissue relies, in part, on a range of minerals, electrolytes and other chemicals in order to contract and relax.

Risk factors for muscle cramp The exact cause of muscle cramp is not known, but risk factors may include: tight, inflexible muscles poor physical condition poor muscle tone inadequate diet physical overexertion physical exertion of cold muscles muscle injury muscle fatigue excessive perspiration dehydration — caused by, for example, a bout of gastroenteritis reduced blood supply ischaemia wearing high-heeled shoes for lengthy periods.

Muscle cramp associated with medical conditions Certain diseases or conditions may increase the risk of muscle cramp, including: Atherosclerosis — a condition characterised by narrowed arteries due to the formation of fatty plaques. Muscles are more likely to cramp if their blood supply is inadequate.

Sciatica — pain in the buttock and leg caused by pressure on nerves in the lower back. In some cases, the irritated nerve may prompt the associated muscles to contract. Medications — some medical conditions require the regular use of fluid pills diuretics.

Treatment options for muscle cramp Most muscle cramps resolve after a few seconds or minutes. There has been very little research done to work out which treatment works best, but treatment options include: Stretch and massage — lengthen the cramping muscle using a gentle, sustained stretch then lightly massage the area until the cramp subsides.

If you are unsure how to stretch leg muscles, see your physiotherapist for advice. Ice pack — in cases of severe cramp, an ice pack applied for a few minutes may help the muscle to relax.

Medication — some medications can be helpful to control muscle cramps. See your doctor for further information. Further treatment — see your doctor if you experience regular muscle cramping or if cramps last longer than a few minutes.

A muscle cramp is a sudden, unexpected tightening of one or more Diabetes prevention strategies. Sometimes muscpe a charley musce, a muscle Cqusing can be very painful. Exercising or working hard, especially in heat, can lead to muscle cramps. Some medicines and illnesses also might cause muscle cramps. Muscle cramps occur mostly in leg muscles, most often in the calf. Cramps usually last for seconds to minutes. But, conditionx it Holistic approaches to inflammation reduction unusual, problems sometimes arise. Muxcle is a neurological movement disorder muscl results in Holistic approaches to inflammation reduction muscle dramps or spasms. The involuntary twisting, repetitive motions, or abnormal postures associated with dystonia can affect anyone at any age. The movements can be slow or fast, range from mild to severe and happen predictably or randomly. An estimatedpeople in North America have dystonia, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

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Cramps or spasms? #muscles