How can you tell if you’re dehydrated. What are the common signs of dehydration. Why is proper hydration essential for your body. How much water should you drink daily. What factors affect your hydration needs. How can you prevent dehydration and its symptoms.

Understanding Dehydration: More Than Just Thirst

Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than it takes in, disrupting normal bodily functions. While many people associate dehydration with extreme thirst, the signs can be subtle and easily overlooked. Recognizing these signs is crucial for maintaining optimal health and preventing potentially serious complications.

The Importance of Proper Hydration

Adequate hydration is essential for numerous bodily functions, including:

• Nutrient transport to vital organs like the brain, kidneys, liver, and heart
• Regulating body temperature
• Maintaining blood volume
• Flushing toxins from the body
• Lubricating joints
• Supporting cognitive function

When your body lacks sufficient fluids, these functions can be compromised, leading to various symptoms and health issues.

6 Key Signs of Dehydration You Shouldn’t Ignore

Recognizing the signs of dehydration early can help you take action before more severe symptoms develop. Here are six common indicators that your body may need more fluids:

1. Persistent Headaches

Do you find yourself experiencing frequent headaches? Dehydration might be the culprit. When your body is low on fluids, blood volume decreases, reducing blood flow to the brain. This can trigger headaches ranging from mild to severe, often worsening with movement. For some individuals, dehydration can even trigger migraines.

2. Muscle Cramps and Aches

Have you ever experienced sudden, painful muscle cramps? Dehydration could be the cause. Your muscles require adequate water and electrolytes to function properly. Without sufficient fluids, muscles can become overly sensitive, leading to involuntary spasms or contractions. Additionally, dehydration can cause a buildup of cellular waste, resulting in inflammation and pain.

3. Dry Mouth and Bad Breath

Is your mouth frequently dry, accompanied by unpleasant breath? These symptoms often indicate dehydration. Saliva plays a crucial role in maintaining oral health by controlling bacteria growth. When you’re dehydrated, saliva production decreases, potentially leading to bad breath and an increased risk of tooth decay.

4. Decreased Urine Output

Have you noticed a reduction in how often you need to urinate? This could be a sign of dehydration. Most adults should produce at least two cups of urine daily. If you’re urinating less than three or four times a day, it may indicate insufficient fluid intake. Dark, concentrated urine is another telltale sign of dehydration and can increase the risk of kidney stones if left unaddressed.

5. Inability to Sweat

Are you exercising or in a hot environment but not sweating as much as usual? This could be a dangerous sign of dehydration. Sweating is your body’s natural cooling mechanism. Without adequate hydration, your body may struggle to regulate its temperature, potentially leading to heatstroke – a serious condition that occurs when body temperature reaches 104°F (40°C) or higher.

6. General Malaise and Cognitive Issues

Do you feel unusually tired, moody, or have trouble concentrating? Dehydration might be affecting your brain function. The brain is composed largely of water, and even mild dehydration can impact its energy supply. This can result in fatigue, lethargy, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, and in some cases, even contribute to feelings of depression.

Hydration Guidelines: Beyond the 8-Glass Rule

While common wisdom suggests drinking eight glasses of water daily, the reality of hydration needs is more nuanced. Individual hydration requirements can vary significantly based on several factors:

• Temperature and climate
• Physical activity level
• Body size and composition
• Overall health status
• Dietary habits

Instead of adhering to a one-size-fits-all approach, it’s crucial to listen to your body and adjust your fluid intake accordingly. Some general guidelines to consider include:

1. Drinking water throughout the day, not just when you feel thirsty
2. Carrying a reusable water bottle to encourage regular sipping
3. Increasing fluid intake during hot weather or intense physical activity
4. Consuming water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables
5. Monitoring urine color (pale yellow indicates good hydration)

Dehydration and Exercise: Preventing Muscle Cramps

For athletes and fitness enthusiasts, understanding the link between dehydration and muscle cramps is crucial. Dehydration cramps can significantly impact performance and recovery. These cramps occur when the body loses essential electrolytes through sweat, disrupting muscle function.

Why Do Dehydration Cramps Occur?

Dehydration cramps happen due to an imbalance in electrolytes, particularly sodium and potassium. When you sweat, you lose these crucial minerals along with water. This loss can lead to:

• Altered nerve function
• Impaired muscle contraction and relaxation
• Reduced blood flow to muscles

All these factors contribute to the onset of painful muscle cramps, which can range from mild discomfort to severe, debilitating pain.

Strategies for Effective Rehydration

Rehydrating effectively goes beyond simply drinking water. To combat dehydration and prevent associated issues like muscle cramps, consider the following strategies:

1. Balanced Electrolyte Intake

Replenishing electrolytes is crucial, especially after intense exercise or prolonged sweating. Electrolyte drinks or supplements can help restore the balance of essential minerals in your body. Look for options that contain sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

2. Gradual Fluid Replacement

Avoid gulping large amounts of water at once. Instead, sip fluids gradually throughout the day. This approach allows your body to absorb and utilize the fluids more effectively, reducing the risk of diluting your electrolyte balance.

3. Pre-hydration Before Activities

If you know you’ll be engaging in strenuous activity or spending time in hot conditions, start hydrating well before the event. This proactive approach can help prevent dehydration before it begins.

4. Incorporate Hydrating Foods

Many fruits and vegetables have high water content and can contribute to your overall hydration. Some excellent options include:

• Watermelon
• Cucumber
• Strawberries
• Lettuce
• Zucchini

The Role of Electrolytes in Hydration

Electrolytes play a crucial role in maintaining proper hydration and preventing dehydration-related issues like muscle cramps. These electrically charged minerals help regulate various bodily functions, including:

• Fluid balance
• Muscle contraction
• Nerve signaling
• pH balance

Key electrolytes essential for hydration include:

1. Sodium: Helps regulate fluid balance and supports nerve function
2. Potassium: Crucial for muscle function and heart rhythm
3. Magnesium: Supports muscle and nerve function
4. Calcium: Important for muscle contraction and bone health
5. Chloride: Helps maintain proper fluid balance

When you sweat, you lose these electrolytes along with water. Simply drinking plain water may not be enough to replenish these vital minerals, which is why electrolyte-enhanced drinks or supplements can be beneficial, especially after intense physical activity or in hot conditions.

Hydration for Different Life Stages and Conditions

Hydration needs can vary significantly depending on age, health status, and lifestyle factors. Understanding these differences can help you tailor your hydration strategy effectively:

Hydration for Children

Children are more susceptible to dehydration due to their higher surface area to body mass ratio and less efficient sweating mechanism. Encourage regular water intake and be vigilant for signs of dehydration, especially during physical activity or hot weather.

Hydration for Older Adults

As we age, our thirst sensation may decrease, putting older adults at higher risk of dehydration. Chronic conditions and medications can further complicate hydration needs. Regular, scheduled fluid intake is often necessary, even in the absence of thirst.

Hydration During Pregnancy

Pregnant women require additional fluids to support fetal development and increased blood volume. Adequate hydration can also help prevent common pregnancy complications like constipation and urinary tract infections.

Hydration for Chronic Conditions

Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or kidney disease, can affect hydration needs and the body’s ability to regulate fluids. Individuals with these conditions should consult with healthcare providers for personalized hydration advice.

Environmental Factors Affecting Hydration

Your environment plays a significant role in determining your hydration needs. Understanding these factors can help you adjust your fluid intake accordingly:

Climate and Temperature

Hot and humid environments increase fluid loss through sweat. In these conditions, you may need to increase your water intake significantly. Conversely, cold environments can also lead to dehydration through increased urination and respiratory fluid loss.

Altitude

Higher altitudes can accelerate fluid loss through increased respiration and urination. If you’re traveling to or living in high-altitude areas, be mindful of increasing your fluid intake.

Air Travel

The low humidity in airplane cabins can lead to increased fluid loss. When flying, especially on long-haul flights, make an effort to drink water regularly throughout the journey.

Indoor Environments

Air conditioning and heating systems can dry out the air, potentially leading to increased fluid loss through respiration and skin. If you spend a lot of time in climate-controlled environments, you may need to be more conscious of your hydration.

By considering these environmental factors and adjusting your fluid intake accordingly, you can maintain proper hydration levels in various settings and situations.

Are You Dehydrated? 6 Signs You May Need To Drink Up | Methodist Health System

When it comes to water intake, you’ve probably heard that every day, you should consume:

• Six to eight glasses
• Half your body weight in ounces
• At least two liters (including what’s in your food)

These rules of thumb aren’t bad or wrong, but they are just that: guidelines. There is no set amount for every single body. What keeps you hydrated may not be enough for me.

So how can you tell if you’re adequately hydrated or need to up the ounces? Listen to your body.
 

What Dehydration Looks and Feels Like

Proper hydration is essential for your body to function best. Fluids help preserve and provide nutrients to the brain, kidney, liver and heart.

While adequate hydration comes with no signs or symptoms, you can likely assume you’re hydrated if things are functioning properly and you feel well on a consistent basis.

If you’re not properly hydrated, however, your body will let you know.

Here are some signs and symptoms of dehydration:
 

Headache

When our bodies are dehydrated, they experience a decrease in blood volume. And when our brains aren’t getting enough blood flow, headaches can occur.

Dehydration headaches can be mild or severe. They can be felt in one specific area of the head or all over, and they usually get worse with movement. Some migraine sufferers even report dehydration as a trigger for their attacks.

Muscle Cramps and Aches

Cramping isn’t just an athlete’s problem, but exercise can contribute to dehydration, which is a common cause of muscle cramps.

Our muscles require plenty of water and electrolytes to do what we ask of them. Without enough fluid, our muscles can become extremely sensitive and spasm or contract involuntarily.

We need water to flush our bodies of cellular waste. A buildup of toxins can lead to inflammation, which often results in pain. Water, which helps lubricate our joints, can also help ward off joint pain and discomfort.
 

Dry Mouth and Bad Breath

A glass of water may provide instant relief for a dry mouth and throat, but consistent hydration helps ensure that the mouth always produces enough saliva.

Saliva is vital in keeping the growth of bacteria in the mouth at bay. An overgrowth can lead to bad breath and tooth decay.

Lack of Urine Output

Most adults produce at least two cups of urine a day. Urination is critical in helping our bodies get rid of waste and toxins.

Decreased urine output can cause a number of complications, including infection. If you’re urinating less than three or four times a day, you may be dehydrated.

Dark, concentrated urine is often another sign of dehydration, and that can eventually cause kidney stones.

Inability To Sweat

Sweating is the body’s way of cooling itself. Without perspiration, the body can overheat.

Heatstroke is a serious, sometimes fatal condition that can occur when our bodies reach a temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

Just Feeling Off

The majority of the brain is composed of water, and without enough of it, the brain’s energy supply can dip. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, lethargy, mood swings and even depression.

Difficulty concentrating at work or school can also be the result of even slight dehydration.

When in Doubt, Take a Sip

When it comes to how much water you need and how often you need it, there are several variables involved. They include:

• Temperature and climate
• Illness
• Exercise
• Body strength and size

Those who are ill, small or frail; those who live in warmer climates; and those who exercise often generally have greater hydration needs. But everyone really ought to make it a priority.

Just as you may carry a phone with you wherever you go, get in the habit of carrying a water bottle – and refill it as needed. Spread hydration out slowly over the course of the day. And when in doubt, take a sip! Many people are often surprised at how many issues and ailments can be remedied by simply improving their hydration levels.

How to Rehydrate and Avoid Dehydration Cramps

If you’ve ever had cramps in your leg muscles or stomach, you know how debilitating the pain can be. From a searing charley horse to stomach pain, cramps can be uncomfortable and disrupt your ability to carry out daily tasks. What you may not know is that dehydration cramps are often the culprit.

We’ll walk you through how dehydration can cause cramps and how to rehydrate to avoid these painful and pesky side effects.

Understanding how to identify risk factors and mild dehydration symptoms is essential — and learning how to combat these impacts as simply drinking water does not solve the issue.

Electrolytes play a major role in rehydrating your body and your muscles, which is why adding an electrolyte drink mix to your water can help you recover more quickly.

Does Dehydration Cause Cramps?

Dehydration is a medical issue caused by your body losing more fluids and electrolytes than it takes in. It can range from cases with mild dehydration symptoms like extreme thirst to severe cases that can be life-threatening.

Losing more fluids and electrolytes than you’re absorbing makes it difficult for your body to function properly. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, decreased urination, extreme thirst, dizziness — and, of course, cramps. In fact, two of the most common signs of dehydration include muscle cramping and stomach cramps.

Here’s why: Your body reacts to dehydration by storing water for the most vital organs, including your heart and lungs. That means less vital organs — like your muscles and digestive system — don’t receive the water and electrolytes required to properly function.

Without these essential fluids, your muscles can start to cramp. You may particularly experience leg cramps in your calf and thigh muscles. You may also experience involuntary contractions like muscle spasms. Dehydration also decreases blood volume, which can also cause cramping as there is less blood flow to organs and muscles.

These combined factors can lead to cramping elsewhere in the body, often in the stomach, because your digestive system uses fluids and electrolytes to store nutrients and create waste. When dehydration sets in, constipation can occur since your body doesn’t have enough water to create stool. This can lead to stomach cramps, bloating, and abdominal pain.

If you’re wondering how to rehydrate and get rid of these symptoms, you’ll need more than just increase water intake. When you’re dehydrated, your body doesn’t have the right balance of electrolytes.

Dehydration can cause mineral depletion, including decreases in calcium, potassium, and magnesium. These electrolytes play a key role in muscle function. When you suffer from an electrolyte imbalance, dehydration sets in and your leg muscles can cramp. To help recover from mild dehydration symptoms like cramping, adding an electrolyte drink mix to water can help speed up this recovery.

How to Recognize Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when you don’t get enough water and electrolytes. It’s sometimes caused by medical conditions that affect the kidneys and thyroid. It can also be exacerbated by certain medications.

The most common causes of dehydration include not drinking enough fluids, excessive sweating, and heat-related illnesses like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. This is why it’s important to drink water and replenish electrolytes while exercising and avoid working out outside if the temperature is too high.

When you sweat, you secrete water and salt to the surface of your skin. There, it evaporates to create a cooling effect. If you don’t replace these lost fluids and electrolytes fast, you may become dehydrated. It’s vital to manage hydration throughout the day, especially when you engage in physical activity in cold or hot weather that raises your body temperature.

You can also get dehydration when you’re sick or have gastroenteritis. Dehydration risk is elevated if you’re vomiting, have severe diarrhea, or a high fever.

While anyone can become dehydrated, older people and young children experience dehydration at higher rates.

Older adults with ailments like Crohn’s disease and other digestive disorders may have a higher risk of dehydration cramps. People who take diuretics like medications for high blood pressure are at increased risk of dehydration. That’s because diuretics can change the concentration of electrolytes like sodium and potassium. That also means an increased risk of dehydration cramps.

Here are some signs of dehydration to watch out for:

• Dry mouth or dry skin
• Rapid heart rate
• Decreased urination or difficulty peeing
• Constipation
• Involuntary muscle contractions
• Fatigue and muscle weakness

To fend off and manage dehydration cramps, you need to address your hydration levels. If you have signs of severe dehydration like sunken eyes, fainting, or confusion, seek medical attention from a qualified healthcare professional immediately.

How to Manage Dehydration Cramps

Dehydration cramps can be uncomfortable, and they can reduce performance and increase the risk of injury, whether you’re working out or hard at work on a job site. By staying hydrated, you can manage dehydration and avoid muscle cramps and stomach cramps.

Dehydration is a leading cause of muscle cramps. Thus, the best way to avoid dehydration cramps is to avoid dehydration in the first place. If you think dehydration is causing your muscle or stomach cramps, you can remedy the situation by addressing the dehydration directly.

Fight Dehydration Cramps with DripDrop

Dehydration cramps can affect your daily routine. Chronic dehydration and cramps can lead to muscle tissue damage in the affected muscle and other side effects. Staying hydrated can fend off dehydration cramps and other signs of dehydration. At the first signs of dehydration cramps, reach for a remedy like DripDrop.

DripDrop’s electrolyte mix will help your body restore the balance of sodium and glucose to help absorption. With the precisely balanced ratio in DripDrop’s patented formula, you can replenish vital electrolytes and fluids to relieve dehydration quickly.

DripDrop allows you to alleviate mild to moderate dehydration outside of a hospital setting, without the need for costly and painful IV therapy. Our patented formula is powerful enough to help patients suffering from dehydration caused by Ebola and cholera, but safe enough for everyday use. Plus, DripDrop tastes amazing and comes in several flavors you can enjoy.

For cases of mild to moderate dehydration, DripDrop is a fast, effective, and great-tasting alternative to IV therapy. The convenient packaging allows you to have DripDrop when you need it, where you need it. Add it to your water bottle, hydration pack, or a normal glass to tackle dehydration no matter where you are.

Get started with our most popular multi-flavor pouch for dehydration relief fast. Or, learn about how you can save up to 25% on every purchase when you subscribe.

Muscle spasms – methods of treatment, diagnosis and causes of spasms

Free appointment
and diagnostics

Pain relief
in 1-2 sessions

Author’s method
treatment

Internships in the USA,
Israel, Germany

Muscle spasm – sudden painful muscle contraction. Occurs involuntarily, sometimes during sleep or rest. Occurs in healthy young people. Most often occurs with overwork and high physical exertion, metabolic disorders.

Causes of spasms

Many conditions can cause spasms:

• taking or abruptly stopping certain medications;
• hormonal dysfunction;
• vitamin or mineral deficiency;
• diseases of the nervous system;
• dehydration;
• excessive exercise;
• sedentary lifestyle;
• diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Symptoms of muscle spasm

Muscle spasm can be reasonably suspected if pain is felt:

• severe, pressure-aching character;
• increasing, with pressure on the site of maximum pain;
• not subsiding at rest;
• abruptly arising, and then passing.

Classification of muscle spasms

The following types of muscle spasms are divided:

Name	Cause	Description
Clonic	Excitation of the cerebral cortex	Synchronous non-rhythmic contractions accompanied by soreness. Loss or clouding of consciousness, disorientation. The beginning and end of the spasm is sudden
Myoclonic	Reaction of the nervous system to physical or nervous overwork	Short-term attacks at night or during physical overwork. Accompanied by muscle numbness, ocular tic, tachycardia, profuse sweating
Tonic	Overexcitation of the basal regions of the brain	Intense convulsions that appear gradually. May occur during rest periods on upper or lower extremities, face, airways

All types of muscle spasms are divided into:

• generalized – involving a large part of the body and many internal organs;
• local – emerging place, in separate areas.

Free medical consultation and diagnostics

• Chiropractor
• Vertebrologist
• Osteopath
• Neurologist

At the consultation, we carry out a thorough diagnosis. As a result of the consultation
We give detailed recommendations for treatment and, if necessary, prescribe additional diagnostics.

1

Carry out functional diagnostics

2

Let’s perform a manipulation that significantly relieves pain

3

We will create an individual treatment program

Book a free appointment

Warning symptoms that require a doctor’s visit

In most cases, spasms go away on their own, in a matter of minutes. They can be painful, but do not pose a threat to human health and life. You should consult a doctor if the ailment recurs repeatedly and is accompanied by:

• severe weakness;
• loss of sensation in the area affected by spasm;
• long-lasting muscle twitching after an attack;
• vomiting, diarrhoea, profuse sweating resulting in significant fluid loss in the body;
• increased soreness of each subsequent attack.

First aid for spasms at home

0004

1. Exclude physical activity, create rest for the painful limb or part of the body.
2. For 10-15 minutes, apply an ice compress to a muscle spasming from exercise, and dry heat to a cramped muscle for an unclear reason.
3. Perform a light self-massage of the painful area, increasing blood flow.
4. Drink plenty of mineral water or water with salt.
5. Gently stretch the muscle, taking into account the area of ​​the body, except in cases with severe pain.

Muscle spasms rarely last more than 15 minutes. However, the residual discomfort can be quite long and unpleasant. Even having eliminated the spasm on your own, do not put off a visit to an experienced specialist for a long time.

Diagnosis of emerging problems

The causes of muscle spasm can be quite obvious problems: high physical activity during sports training, non-physiological static posture, anything else. After removing the pain manifestation, you can prophylactically visit a specialist doctor.

Spasms of the head, neck, abdomen and others that occur suddenly, without obvious external causes of discomfort, require a mandatory visit to a doctor. Such muscle spasms can be symptoms of serious diseases that require immediate treatment. It is recommended to pay a visit to a neurologist or orthopedist. After conducting an examination, questioning and additional studies, the specialist will make a diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Stages of diagnosis:

• questioning the patient about symptoms: the time of onset of spasms, their duration, frequency, localization, possible provoking factors, additional symptoms, general information about past, chronic diseases, lifestyle, heredity;
• medical examination aimed at neurological examination of the state of muscles and reflexes, examination of the skin;
• additional examination: various types of clinical blood tests, including the level of sugar and electrolytes, electromyography – assessment of the functional state of skeletal muscles and peripheral nerve fibers, MRI of the brain or spinal cord, other studies according to individual indications.

The collected information will serve as a basis for establishing the cause of the condition, accurate diagnosis of the disease. Depending on the prevailing picture, the attending physician will develop a detailed scheme for the most effective and efficient treatment.

Treatment of pathology

Complex therapy helps to eliminate muscle spasms of tissues, get rid of pain manifestations. Depending on the identified cause of the pathology, the following are prescribed:

• physiotherapeutic procedures;
• performing massage procedures;
• cryotherapy, exposure to cold;
• laser therapy;
• acupuncture;
• medicines.

Medical treatment of muscle spasm

To effectively relax cramped muscles and quickly eliminate pain syndrome, use:

• Muscle relaxants, drugs that reduce muscle tone until the muscles are completely immobilized;
• Antispasmodics, drugs that eliminate spasm of the smooth muscles of the internal organs of the patient;
• NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with high-quality analgesic effect.

Most drugs in these groups are available over the counter. Nevertheless, before a medical examination, it is not recommended to take drugs on your own, so as not to blur the clinical picture of the disease, suppressing the development of a serious complication.

Possible complications of the disease

If you do not pay attention to muscle spasms, then over time their duration and severity will increase, and will also provoke the progress of serious diseases of the body, such as:

• osteochondrosis;
• narrowing of the arteries, circulatory disorders;
• postural disorders, problems of the musculoskeletal system;
• migraines.

It is much more difficult to cure neglected muscle spasms than a pathological process that has just started.

Prevention of muscle cramps

Effective preventive measures help reduce the likelihood of recurrence of painful manifestations, as well as avoid dangerous complications:

• taking vitamin and mineral complexes;
• daily consumption of at least two liters of drinking water;
• regular muscle-strengthening exercise;
• giving up bad habits;
• timely treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• undergoing annual scheduled medical examinations, as well as visiting a doctor in the presence of dangerous symptoms.

Muscle spasms: advanced treatment in Moscow

Effective treatment of muscle spasms is possible only with timely access to highly qualified specialists. These are the doctors who work in our clinic. For many years they have been successfully coping with muscle spasms, restoring health and joy of life to the most difficult and hopeless patients. We accept for treatment even those who have been rejected by other specialists or medical institutions.

Guaranteed positive result – a logical result of an innovative approach that combines classical methods of therapy proven by practice, as well as innovative achievements of modern medicine in the field of treatment of muscle spasms. The professional arsenal of doctors of the clinic is rich and varied. It contains a huge number of rehabilitation and recovery programs, and is also systematically updated with the most effective and progressive methods. Our doctors are constantly adopting the best practices of leading experts in this field, leaving for training, seminars, conferences in leading clinics in Israel, the USA, Germany.

We offer our patients a free consultation with an experienced specialist, an extended diagnosis of the problem, and a plan of therapeutic measures. From the first treatment procedures, patients notice a significant improvement in their condition, partial or complete relief of pain symptoms.

Call and register for a free consultation with a specialist!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the harms of muscle tension and spasms?

A spasmodic muscle compresses blood vessels as well as nerve fibers. The normal functioning of not only the tissues of the muscle itself is disturbed, but also of closely located internal organs. In addition, muscle spasm maintains the tissue in a constantly tense state, increasing the body’s energy consumption for irrational and even harmful work.

What diseases can mimic muscle spasms?

The cause of such destruction may be:

• Dystonia, giving more persistent, repetitive convulsions, which may involve several nearby muscle groups;
• Tetany, neuromuscular excitability syndrome in metabolic disorders;
• Muscle ischemia, giving painful symptoms of the muscles of the extremities during exercise, associated with insufficiently active blood circulation;
• Phantom spasms, the occurrence of a sensation of muscle spasm in the absence of a true contraction.

Who tends to cramp more often?

The problem is familiar to every person, but for some it is a rarity, while for others it is a constant companion. The risk group includes people:

• suffering from vascular diseases and muscle atrophy;
• engaged in heavy physical labor;
• athletes;
• alcohol abusers;
• pregnant women
• babies up to three years old, when the temperature rises above 38 degrees.

Why does muscle contraction in pregnant women?

During pregnancy there is a complete restructuring of the body, including metabolism. Against this background, there is often a deficiency of certain elements or vitamins, in particular magnesium. It is his lack that causes muscle spasm. Against the background of weight gain, the load on the woman’s legs increases, causing the occurrence of painful contractions. The lumbar spine, which is in tension under the pressure of the uterus, leads to painful reduction of the back muscles. In the state of gestation, women are recommended frequent rest and physiotherapy exercises, which strengthen the muscular corset of the body.

Material checked by an expert

Marshenin Konstantin Vladimirovich

Chief physician. Neurologist, chiropractor, vertebrologist, psychoneurologist, doctor of the highest qualification category

Work experience – 22 years

Video reviews of patients

Joint block in the neck

Hernia in the lower back and neck

B Dr. Length’s clinic I came from spinal problems. With two intervertebral lower hernias and two intervertebral hernias in the neck. I was assigned a comprehensive 10 step program. For 4 months, my lower vertebrae completely disappeared and crunches in my neck disappeared …

Hernia of the lumbosacral region

“After the first time, my back stopped hurting. I felt relieved. Now 7 sessions have already passed and the back really does not hurt. I began to forget about it. And at first it hurt a lot. ”

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve

“For 4 months I suffered from severe inflammation of the sciatic nerve on the right side. After the first visit, relief came immediately within six hours. After 6 courses, the pain was almost gone.

Pain in the lower back and leg

Yakovleva Natalya Mikhailovna
Head of the department, surgeon of the highest category, oncologist-mammologist
I want to express my deep gratitude for the fact that I was put on my feet in the truest sense of the word. I came to the clinic a month and a half ago with severe pain in the lower back and leg. These complaints were long enough and the treatment that I used in the past was ineffective. Fortunately, I ended up in the clinic of Dr. Length and his team of super professionals!

Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine

“I applied 2 months ago with osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. I have a sedentary job and my neck muscles were very cramped. It was impossible to work. Before that, I went to other doctors, but this did not solve my problem. For 2 months I have a fairly positive dynamics. Every week it gets better and better.”

Bechterew’s disease

“I have had Bechterew’s disease for 10 years. The vertebrae began to move out, I began to slouch. I turned to other chiropractors, very famous, media ones. In the end, I didn’t get any results. After 2 sessions I felt much better. Now I don’t have any pain.”

Pain in the spine

“I came in with problems in my back, cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. I was prescribed procedures, had a massage, and was assigned to do physical education at home. This made it much easier for me. I’m already turning my head. I have no pain.”

Shoulder-to-shoulder periarthrosis

I came to the clinic with severe pain in my shoulder. My hand did not rise, I could not sleep at night, I woke up from pain. After the first treatment session, I felt much better. Somewhere in the middle of the course, my hand began to rise, I began to sleep at night.

Arthrosis of the knee joint, 2nd degree

She came in with a very serious illness. I could not walk, I have arthrosis of the 2nd degree of the knee joint. I went through a course of treatment at the Clinic and now I am going 100%.

Herniated disc

“I came to the clinic after I had back pain and it turned out to be a herniated disc. I went to other places, but they only relieved attacks of pain. Hope for a return to normal life was given only by Sergei Vladimirovich, his golden hands!

Scoliosis

“Since I was a teenager, I have suffered from scoliosis in the thoracic region. I felt a feeling of discomfort, tension, periodic pain in the spine. I turned to various specialists, a massage therapist, an osteopath, but I did not feel a strong effect. After treatment, Length S.V. I almost have a straight spine. Currently, I do not feel any problems and discomfort.”

Intervertebral hernia

“At the 5th-6th session there was an improvement. I felt much better. The pain is gone. Improvement progressed more and more each time. Lesson 10 today. I feel great.”

Pain in the lumbar and cervical region

“I am 21 years old. I went to the clinic with discomfort in the lumbar and cervical region. I also sometimes had sharp pains. After undergoing therapy, I felt a significant improvement in my back. I have no pain. The condition as a whole has improved.”

Back pain

“At the beginning of the path of treatment, my back hurt very much. I could no longer walk. I take 5 steps and stop. My entire journey consisted of such stops. In the very first procedure, I left the office with no pain in my spine.”

Cervical hernia

“I came in with a problem in my neck and my right arm was very sore. The neck did not turn, the hand did not rise. After the 3rd session, I felt better. After the 5th, all this pain began to decrease. It turns out I have 2 hernias in my cervical vertebrae. After the sessions, I did an MRI and one hernia decreased. Now he began to move, his hand earned.

Pain in the neck

“I went to Dr. Long because I had a very bad pain in my neck on the right side. I fell on a snowboard 5 years ago, even went to an osteopath, but somehow it didn’t really help. Now everything is fine, there are some consequences left, the muscles were spasmodic. When I came, I had steel muscles, now my neck is very soft.”

Pain in the thoracic region

“I went to the clinic with back pain, namely in the thoracic region. After 10 sessions of treatment, I could already calmly go about my usual business, sit at work until lunch, without howling in pain. Now I’ve come back for an adjustment after 2 months. I’m fine, my back doesn’t hurt.”

Hernia and protrusion

“I came to the clinic with L4-L5 hernia and L5-S1 protrusion. Today the course of treatment has ended. Lower back hurt, it was difficult to bend down. After completing the course and receiving instructions in the form of physical exercises, it became much easier. After a month of treatment, I do not feel any stiffness of movements. ”

Pain in the lower back and hip joint

“I have been suffering from back pain since I was young. When they became unbearable, I went to Dr. Length’s clinic. Already after the first procedure, the pain in the hip joint was gone. After the third procedure, the shooting pains in the lower back stopped.

Applying today will help

avoid surgery tomorrow!

Relieve pain and inflammation

After 2-3 treatments, exhausting pain disappears and you feel better.

Eliminate the cause of the disease

Comprehensive joint rehabilitation improves well-being: you feel a surge of strength and energy.

Let’s start the regeneration process

The process of repairing damaged tissues begins. Inflammation and swelling go away.

Prevention of complications

To avoid complications, contact Dr. Length’s spine and joint clinic.

We treat

• Chest pain
• Pain in the thoracic spine
• Heel pain
• Lower back pain
• Neck pain
• The lower back and legs are taken away

VIEW ALL

Reviews about us on Yandex Maps

Muscle cramps – treatment, symptoms, causes, diagnosis

• Muscle cramps are involuntary and intense muscle contractions without a period of relaxation.
• Almost everyone has experienced a seizure at least once in their life.
• There are different types of seizures and different causes.
• Many different medications can cause muscle cramps.
• In most cases, muscle cramps can be stopped by relaxing (stretching) the muscle.
• Muscle cramps can often be prevented by measures such as a nutritious diet with sufficient micronutrients and adequate fluid intake.

Muscle cramps is an involuntary and violent contraction of a muscle without a period of relaxation. When muscles that can be controlled voluntarily, such as the muscles of the arms or legs, are used, they alternately contract and relax as certain movements are made in the limbs. The muscles that support the head, neck and torso work in synchrony and maintain the position of the body. A muscle (or even a few muscle fibers) can be involuntarily in a state of spasm. If the spasm is strong and persistent, then this leads to the appearance of convulsions. Muscle cramps are often visualized or palpated in the region of the muscle involved.

Muscle cramps can last from a few seconds to a quarter of an hour, and sometimes longer. It is also not uncommon for the seizures to recur until the muscle relaxes. The spasmodic contractions may involve part of a muscle, the entire muscle, or several muscles that usually contract at the same time when performing movements, such as flexing several fingers. In some cases, cramps can be simultaneously in the antagonist muscles responsible for movements in opposite directions. Muscle cramps are widespread. Almost all people (according to some studies about 95% of people) have experienced seizures at some point in their lives. Muscle cramps are common in adults and become more common with age, but cramps can still occur in children. In any muscle (skeletal) in which voluntary movements are performed, there may be cramps. Cramps of the limbs, legs and feet, and especially the calf muscle, are very common.

Types and causes of muscle cramps

Skeletal muscle cramps can be divided into four main types. These include “true” seizures, tetanic seizures, contractures, and dystonic seizures. Seizures are classified according to the causes of the seizures and the muscle groups they affect.

Types of muscle cramps

True cramps . True cramps involve part or all of a muscle or group of muscles that normally function together, such as the muscles involved in flexing several adjacent fingers. Most researchers agree that true cramps are caused by increased excitability of nerves that stimulate muscle contractions. They are overwhelmingly the most common type of skeletal muscle cramps. True seizures can occur in a variety of circumstances.

Injuries : Persistent muscle spasms may occur as a defense mechanism after an injury such as a broken bone. In this case, as a rule, spasm allows you to minimize movement and stabilize the area of ​​injury. Injury to just the muscle can also lead to muscle spasm.

Vigorous activity: true cramps are usually associated with active muscle loading and muscle fatigue (during sports or unusual activities). Such convulsions can occur both during the activity and after, sometimes many hours later. In addition, muscle fatigue from sitting or lying down for a long period of time in an awkward position or any repetitive movement can also cause cramps. Older people are more at risk of seizures during vigorous or strenuous physical activity.

Rest seizures : Rest seizures are very common, especially in the elderly, but can occur at any age, including childhood. Rest spasms often occur at night. Night cramps, while not life threatening, can be painful, disrupt sleep, and may recur frequently (i.e., many times a night and/or many nights a week). The actual cause of nighttime cramps is unknown. Sometimes these cramps are initiated by a movement that contracts the muscles. An example would be stretching the foot in bed, which shortens the calf muscle, where cramps are most common.

Dehydration : Sports and other strenuous exercise may cause excessive fluid loss through sweat. With this type of dehydration, the likelihood of true seizures increases. These cramps most often occur in warm weather and may be an early sign of heat stroke. Chronic dehydration due to diuretics and poor fluid intake can similarly lead to seizures, especially in the elderly. Seizures can also be associated with a lack of sodium.

Redistribution of fluids in the body: true convulsions can also be noted in conditions where there is an unusual distribution of fluid in the body. An example is cirrhosis of the liver, in which there is an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites). Similarly, seizures are a relatively common complication of the rapid changes in body fluids that occur during dialysis for kidney failure.

Low levels of electrolytes in the blood (calcium, magnesium): low blood levels of calcium or magnesium directly increase the excitability of the nerve endings innervating the muscles. This may be a predisposing factor for the spontaneous true seizures that many older people experience, and these seizures are also common in pregnant women. Low levels of calcium and magnesium are common in pregnant women, especially if these minerals are not getting enough from the diet. Seizures occur in any circumstance that reduces the availability of calcium or magnesium in body fluids, such as diuretics, hyperventilation, excessive vomiting, lack of calcium and/or magnesium in the diet, insufficient absorption of calcium due to vitamin D deficiency, reduced parathyroid function.

Low potassium levels: Low blood potassium levels sometimes cause muscle cramps, although muscle weakness is more common in hypokalemia.

Tetany

Tetany activates all nerve cells in the body, which then stimulate muscle contraction. In this type, convulsive contractions occur throughout the body. The name tetany comes from the spasms that occur when tetanus toxin affects the nerves. However, this name for this type of cramp is now widely used to refer to muscle cramps in other conditions, such as low blood levels of calcium and magnesium. Low levels of calcium and magnesium increase the activity of the nervous tissue non-specifically, which can lead to the appearance of tetanic seizures. Often these seizures are accompanied by signs of hyperactivity of other nerve functions in addition to muscle hyperstimulation. For example, low blood calcium not only causes muscle spasm in the hands and wrists, but it can also cause numbness and tingling sensations around the mouth and other areas of the body.

Sometimes, tetanic convulsions are indistinguishable from true convulsions. Additional changes in sensation or other nerve function may not be noticeable, as the pain of a cramp may mask other symptoms.

Contractures

Contractures occur when muscles cannot relax for an even longer period than with the main types of muscle cramps. Constant spasms are caused by the depletion of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) – the energy intracellular substrate of the cell. This prevents relaxation of the muscle fibers. The nerves are inactive in this type of muscle cramp.

Contracture may be the result of genetic inheritance (eg, McArdle disease, which is a defect in the breakdown of glycogen to sugar in muscle cells) or acquired conditions (eg, hyperthyroid myopathy, which is a muscle disease associated with an overactive thyroid gland) . Convulsions of the type of contractures are rare.

Dystonic seizures

The last category of seizures are dystonic seizures, in which muscles not involved in the intended movement are affected and contracted. Muscles that are involved in this type of cramp include antagonistic muscles that usually work in the opposite direction of the intended movement and/or others that enhance the movement. Some dystonic spasms usually affect small muscle groups (eyelids, cheeks, neck, larynx, etc.). The arms and hands may be affected during repetitive movements such as writing (writer’s cramp), playing a musical instrument. These activities can also lead to true cramps due to muscle fatigue. Dystonic seizures are not as common as true seizures.

Other types of seizures

Some seizures are caused by a number of nerve and muscle disorders. For example, these are diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease), accompanied by muscle weakness and atrophy; radiculopathy in degenerative diseases of the spine (hernia, disc protrusion, osteophytes), when root compression is accompanied by pain, impaired sensitivity and sometimes convulsions. Seizures can also occur with peripheral nerve damage, such as diabetic neuropathy.

Crumpy . This type of cramps, as a rule, describes cramps in the calf muscle, and associate their appearance with muscle overstrain and the presence of degenerative changes in the spine (osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, lumbar ischialgia). In addition, cramps are possible with disorders of the vascular circulation in the lower extremities (with obliterating endarteritis or post-thrombophlebitic syndrome). Also, various biochemical disorders in the triceps muscle of the leg can be the cause of cramps.

Many drugs can cause seizures. Strong diuretics such as furosemide or vigorous fluid removal from the body, even with less potent diuretics, can induce seizures as dehydration and sodium loss occur. At the same time, diuretics often cause loss of potassium, calcium and magnesium, which can also cause seizures.

Medicines such as donepezil (Aricept, which is used to treat Alzheimer’s) and neostigmine (Prostigmine, used for myasthenia gravis), asraloxifene (Evista) is used to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women – may cause seizures. Tolcapone (Tasmar), which is used to treat Parkinson’s disease, has been shown to cause muscle cramps in at least 10% of patients. True seizures have been reported with nifedipine and the drugs Terbutaline (Brethine) and albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin). Some medicines used to lower cholesterol, such as lovastatin (Mevacor), can also cause seizures.

Seizures are sometimes observed in addicts during cessation of sedatives.

Lack of certain vitamins can also lead directly or indirectly to muscle cramps. These include deficiencies in thiamine (B1), pantothenic acid (B5), and pyridoxine (B6). The exact role of deficiency of these vitamins in causing seizures is unknown.

Poor circulation in the legs leads to a lack of oxygen in the muscle tissue and can cause severe muscle pain (intermittent claudication) that occurs when walking. It usually occurs in the calf muscles. But the pain in vascular disorders in such cases is not caused by the muscle cramp itself. This pain may be more related to the buildup of lactic acid and other chemicals in muscle tissue. Cramps in the calf muscles can also be associated with a violation of the outflow of blood in varicose veins and, as a rule, cramps in the calf muscles occur at night.

Symptoms and diagnosis of muscle cramps

Characteristically, a cramp is often quite painful. As a rule, the patient has to stop activities and urgently take measures to relieve seizures; the person is unable to use the affected muscle during the seizure. Severe cramps may be accompanied by soreness and swelling, which can sometimes persist for up to several days after the cramp has subsided. At the time of the cramp, the affected muscles will bulge, feel hard and tender to the touch.

Diagnosis of seizures is usually not difficult, but finding out the causes may require both careful history taking and instrumental and laboratory examinations.

Treatment

Most seizures can be interrupted by stretching the muscle. For many leg and foot cramps, this stretch can often be achieved by standing up and walking. With cramps in the calf muscles, it is possible to bend the ankle with the help of the hand, while lying in bed with the leg extended straight. In writing spasm, pressing the hand against the wall with the fingers down will stretch the flexors of the fingers.

A gentle muscle massage can also be performed to help relax a cramped muscle. If the cramp is associated with fluid loss, as is often the case with strenuous exercise, rehydration and restoration of electrolyte levels is necessary.

Muscle relaxants may be used in the short term in certain situations to allow muscles to relax during injury or other conditions (eg, radiculopathy). These drugs include cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), orphenadrine (NORFLEX), and baclofen (Lioresal).

In recent years, injections of therapeutic doses of botulinum toxin (Botox) have been successfully used for certain dystonic muscle disorders that are localized to a limited muscle group. A good response may last several months or more, and injections may be repeated.

Treatment of seizures that are associated with specific diseases, usually focuses on the treatment of the underlying disease.

In cases where seizures are severe, frequent, prolonged, difficult to treat, or not associated with an obvious cause, then in such cases, both additional examination and more intensive treatment are required.

Seizure Prevention

Adequate nutrition with sufficient fluids and electrolytes is essential to prevent possible seizures, especially during strenuous exercise or during pregnancy.

Night cramps and other rest cramps can often be prevented with regular stretching exercises, especially if done before bed.

Magnesium and calcium supplements are also a good way to prevent seizures, but caution is required when prescribing them in the presence of renal failure. In the presence of hypovitaminosis, it is necessary to take vitamins of group B, vitamin D, E.

If the patient is taking diuretics, it is necessary to take potassium supplements.

Recently, the only drug that is widely used for the prevention, and sometimes for the treatment of seizures, is quinine. Quinine has been used for many years in the treatment of malaria. The action of quinine is due to a decrease in muscle excitability. However, quinine has a number of serious side effects that limit its use to all groups of patients (nausea, vomiting, headaches, heart rhythm disturbances, hearing impairment, etc.