muscle cramps
Information, Symptoms, Treatments and Resources
Muscle cramps are common and may be stopped by stretching the muscle. The cramping muscle may feel hard or bulging.
Muscle spasms are different than muscle twitches, which are covered in a separate article.
Muscle spasms can cause cramps and are usually brought on by the following:
- Muscle fatigue
- Heavy exercise
- Dehydration
- Pregnancy
- Hypothyroidism
- Reduced levels of magnesium or calcium in the body
- Other metabolic problems
- Alcoholism
- Kidney failure
- Medications
Call your doctor if your muscle cramps are severe, last a long time, or keep coming back and do not go away with simple stretching.
Your health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask questions about your medical history, such as:
- When did the spasms first begin?
- How long do they last?
- How often do you experience muscle spasms?
- What muscles are affected?
- Is it always the same location?
- Are you pregnant?
- Have you been vomiting, had diarrhea, excessive sweating, excessive urine volume, or other possible cause of dehydration?
- What medications do you take?
- Have you been exercising heavily?
- Have you been drinking alcohol heavily?
Tests that may be done include:
- Blood tests for disorders of the following:
- Calcium, potassium, or magnesium metabolism
- Thyroid function
- Kidney function
- Pregnancy test
- Electromyography
- Myelography
Pain relievers (analgesics) may be prescribed.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. � 1997- 2008 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
