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Cramping in the thigh is a painful experience brought on by dehydration, stiff muscles and/or a lack of key minerals and vitamins in the body. The resulting pain is generally experienced when a person in exercising--however, cramping can occur when a person is asleep. To alleviate the pain, it is essential to consume the necessary... more »
Foot cramps begin suddenly and are painful. They can be caused by your diet, circulatory problems, sensitivity to chemicals or substances in the environment, or even the use of alcohol or tobacco. You can usually relieve the pain by extending your foot away from the cramped position and gently massaging it until the spasm has passed.... more »
Cramping calves is a painful condition that plagues many athletes, although it does occasionally affect non-athletic individuals as well. The causes and treatments for cramping calves are usually related. When you can determine the most likely cause for your own calf cramps, it is easiest to determine the best treatment for your... more »
Bleeding and cramping are two symptoms no woman wants to experience while she is pregnant. However, these symptoms don't always mean a serious problem. To calm anxiety and know when to call a doctor, it's smart to learn what these symptoms may mean before you experience them. more »
An aneurysm is defined as a dilation or thinning of the wall of an artery or other blood vessel. There are several different types of aneurysms (including aortic, intracranial, abdominal and thoracic), most of which are commonly found in individuals between 60 and 90 years of age, most of the cases being male. Most of them are located... more »
If your stomach is feeling a little queasy, you could have a stomach virus coming on. Check...
Badminton was first played by the ancient Greeks and can now be seen in gym classes and family...
Intensity rules a Bikram yoga session. Bikram yoga uses heat and sequential poses for serious...
PMS, or pre-menstrual syndrome, has become common joke fodder, at least for male comedians (or...
The term "stomach cramp" is rather vague. What exactly people are referring to when using the term isn't always clear and can differ between... more »
Foot cramps can strike at any time, but they are known to hit people at night. Some can be so painful that they jolt you awake from a sound sleep.... more »
While only a urine or blood pregnancy test can confirm whether a woman really is pregnant, women can experience various symptoms during early... more »
Cramping neck pain with radicular symptoms involves pain running down the arm and sometimes into the hand because of nerve irritation in the neck.... more »
A number of different medical conditions can cause symptoms of abdominal pain and cramping with rectal bleeding. Diverticulosis, colon polyps or... more »
For the heraldic device, see cramp (heraldry); for the band, see The Cramps
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Cramps are unpleasant, often painful sensations caused by contraction or over-shortening of muscles. Cramps can be caused by cold, overexertion or low calcium level in blood (especially for adolescents, who need calcium for both blood and bone maturing) though the most common reason is low sodium and potassium levels in blood accompanied by excessive dehydration. Illness or poisoning can also cause cramps, particularly in the stomach, which is referred to as colic if it fits particular characteristics.
Causes
There are a number of causes of cramping:http://www.medicinenet.com/muscle_cramps/page2.htm#2whatare hyperflexion; hypoxia; exposure to large changes in temperature; dehydration; low blood salt; or low blood calcium. Muscle cramps may also be a symptom or complication of pregnancy, kidney disease, thyroid disease, hypokalemia or hypocalcemia (as conditions), restless legs syndrome, varicose veins, Bergin J. The Vein Book, Hardcover text, Editor Bergin J , 2007. and multiple sclerosis."test2">
Electrolyte disturbance may cause cramping and tetany of muscles, particularly hypokalaemia (a low level of potassium) and hypocalcaemia (a low level of calcium). This disturbance arises as the body loses large amounts of interstitial fluid through sweat. This interstitial fluid is composed mostly of water and table salt (sodium chloride). The loss of osmotically active particles outside muscle cells leads to a disturbance of the osmotic balance and swelling of muscle cells as these contain more osmotically active particles. This causes the calcium pump between the muscle lumen and sarcoplasmic reticulum to short circuit and the calcium ions remain bound to the troponin and the muscle contracti read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cramp
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