Why Do People Get Leg Cramps?

Leg cramps, or spasms, are caused by an electrolyte and mineral imbalance in the bloodstream. Cramps are not to be confused with muscle twitches, which are also involuntary muscle contractions but do not cause any pain. Leg cramps can be triggered by many activities and conditions, and they can be a serious medical condition if they become chronic.

Dehydration

• Muscle cramps can be caused by dehydration. Drinking adequate amounts of water keeps the minerals and electrolytes in the bloodstream balanced, helping to prevent your muscles, especially the large leg muscles, from getting cramps.

Medications

• There are many different medications that are known to cause muscle cramps. Diuretics, for example, are pills that help purge your bloodstream of sodium. However, in so doing they cause the potassium levels to drop, which can cause an imbalance of the mineral and electrolyte levels in the bloodstream. Check with your doctor if you started getting muscle cramps after using a particular medication.

Excessive Exercise

• Exercising too much, especially in endurance sports, uses up a lot of minerals and electrolytes in your bloodstream, raising the risk of a leg cramp.

Inactivity

• When your muscles are idle for a long time, they are more prone to cramps because of the decreased blood flow to the area of the body that is not working. For instance, this can occur in the legs when you are sitting in front of a computer for too long.

Calcium

• While you are working out, calcium channels leak and disturb the body's electrolyte and mineral balance, causing the muscles to involuntarily contract; this results in mild spasms.

Diseases and Conditions

• Many diseases and conditions also cause leg cramps. Anemia, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, kidney disease, alcoholism, thyroid disease, and even pregnancy side effects can prompt muscle spasms, as they can cause conflicts in the mineral and electrolyte levels in the bloodstream.