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What causes cramp?

HANA SMID, BY EMAIL

Cramp is the painful sensation we get when muscles involuntarily and powerfully contract. Many people are woken in the night when muscles in their calves or feet go into spasm and clench up very tight. Moving the affected muscles is usually the best way to avoid the pain, and massage – if you have a willing masseur close-by – can help too. The underlying physiological causes aren’t fully understood, but deficiencies of sodium, calcium, magnesium and potassium are often cited. These minerals are involved in the transmission of nerve impulses and, if they’re out of balance, signals to the muscles can be disrupted. Potassium is also needed for muscle building and repair. Such imbalances can be caused by not drinking enough or by losing too much salt through exercise and sweating. They can also occur in various illnesses as well as in perfectly natural states such as menstruation and pregnancy.

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