Muscle cramps, also known as muscle spasms, are contractions that can affect any muscle in your body. The sudden tightness can be painful or plain uncomfortable steroids for sale uk.
While the exact cause of cramping isn’t known, certain factors are known to trigger it, including:
- Remaining in one position for a long time
- Straining the muscles too hard, like in the case of athletes
- Dehydration
- Lack of enough blood flow in the limbs
- Pressure on the nerves of the spinal cord
Usually, muscle cramps aren’t anything to worry about unless they are a symptom of a serious condition that causes nerve damage like Sjogren’s syndrome and Diabetes.
In most cases, you can treat muscle cramps at home without the need for medical attention. Here are things you can try.
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Move Around
When cramping hits, moving about may seem like a bad idea, but it can also help stretch and relieve the affected muscles.
However, moving around doesn’t necessarily mean continuing whatever activity you were engaged in before the spasms began, as that can make things worse.
Experts suggest walking about or making gentle movements to get the affected muscle to relax.
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Get a Massage
Massages are super therapeutic and can help relieve pain and even stress. A gentle massage can help with muscle cramps by easing the tension in your body, improving blood circulation.
You want to focus on the affected muscles, rubbing and applying pressure gently to relax the tissues. That tends to lessen the pain associated with contractions.
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Try Cold or Heat
You may have heard of cold and hot compresses as a treatment for pain and muscle tension. Both forms of therapy are effective and will help you find relief pretty fast, even though they work differently.
Heat is great for pain, and applying it to the affected muscles promotes blood flow and soothes the tissue. Heat options could be anything from a warm towel, or a heating pad, to a hot bath. Try applying heat for up to 20 minutes at a time.
While heat is great for pain, it may not do much for inflammation but cold therapy should. Try an ice pack to reduce inflammation and the pain caused by cramping.
Basically, whichever therapy you choose can help, but you may alternate the two to combat persistent spasms.
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Stay Hydrated
There’s a connection between dehydration and muscle spasms. If the cramping begins, increase your water intake to rule out dehydration as a factor.
It’s important that you drink enough water throughout the day, especially when it’s hot outside. When you’re fully hydrated, your body maintains optimal temperature, flushes out toxins, and allows proper circulation.
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Try Herbs
Herbs have been part of our existence from the beginning. Many have medicinal properties that people have researched and relied on for millennia.
You can relieve muscle cramps using herbal preparations like teas and supplements. Herbs like valerian root, turmeric, and ashwagandha are known to relieve pain, inflammation, and even stress.
Valerian root, for example, has a soothing effect that can help relax muscles, aiding with aches and pains.
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Treat with Weed
The world has become more aware of the great potential of cannabis as a medicinal plant. There’s a bulk of evidence that cannabis or marijuana has unique chemical compounds that can aid with various illnesses.
If weed is legal where you are, you can try medicating with it to relieve muscle cramps at home.
However, remember that marijuana has many strains bred to address different issues.
Ask a professional, like a budtender, about strains best suited for muscle cramps. They should suggest several strains known to relieve pain, inflammation, fatigue, stress, and anxiety.
One example of strains with the above traits that can help with muscle cramps is Blue Dream Purple.
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Exercise
Working out is important for your overall health. It also strengthens your muscles and relieves tension in the body, which can help prevent cramping.
Engaging in light exercises and performing them regularly is advisable to improve flexibility.
Additionally, try working towards overall fitness and maintaining a healthy weight to lower the occurrence of muscle cramps.
Final Thoughts
How frequent or severe muscle cramps occur varies from one patient to another. Regardless of your situation, there are solutions to help manage the condition. Besides medical care, simple remedies at home can also come in handy.
