Involuntary muscle contractions often occur even in healthy people. In this article I want to talk about what convulsions are: the causes and treatment of this problem.
Terminology
At the very beginning, you need to understand the concepts that will be actively used in this article. So, cramps are involuntary muscle contractions. Often accompanied by pain or discomfort. And if at first glance this problem does not seem terrible, convulsions must be fought. After all, often they are a symptom of a certain disease. In addition, they also negatively affect the quality of human life. It is also worth mentioning that there are several types of convulsions:
- Occasional, or random (partial). Occur irregularly, do not carry health threats. At the same time, human consciousness does not turn off.
- Tonic-clonic convulsions. Accompanied by loss of consciousness. In this case, a person may release foam from his mouth during a seizure. Subspecies: myoclonic seizures that occur most often in children and adolescents. In this case, the whole body is involved in the process. This type of seizure is mainly a symptom of a disease such as epilepsy.
Causes of spontaneous seizures
So, spontaneous convulsions: causes and treatment. First of all, I want to talk about why they can arise:
- Hypothermia. The most common reason. Most often, such cramps occur when bathing in cold water.
- Inconvenient position. If a person is in an uncomfortable position for a long time, his muscles can “numb” (the nerve channel of the muscle is clamped). In this case, you can cope with the problem using the simplest massage or kneading.
- Quite often, spontaneous seizures occur in people who smoke actively or often consume coffee. Muscle twitching is not uncommon for them. You can easily cope with the problem - just refuse to take nicotine and caffeine.
Other reasons
Why else can cramps occur? The causes and treatment of these symptoms - this will be discussed later.
- Lack of vitamins: fat-soluble (D, E), water-soluble ( B2 and B6 ).
- Lack of trace elements. If the human body lacks potassium, calcium, sodium and magnesium, this can cause frequent seizures. This is especially true for pregnant women.
- Another cause of seizures: a lack of nutrition of taurine amino acids.
- Dehydration can also cause cramps.
- If we are talking about small children (newborns), their cramps occur mainly at high body temperature.
- Muscle twitching may be caused by insufficient blood supply.
- Excessive exercise can also cause cramps.
- Well, often muscle contractions are an accompanying symptom of a certain disease. For example, epilepsy, infectious or nervous diseases.
Body cramps
We further consider the topic - convulsions: causes and treatment. So, I want to dwell a little on the contractions of the muscles of the whole body. Doctors say that in this case, the cause of seizures are certain diseases:
- Brain damage: tumors, cysts.
- Infectious diseases.
- Epileptic seizures.
- Problems with the work of the gastrointestinal tract (most often - poisoning).
In this case, convulsions occur as a result of too much tension of the nerve cells of the brain. You can diagnose the onset of an attack by certain indicators (a change in sensations) or as a result of electroencephalography. After an attack, the patient usually always falls asleep, and usually does not remember anything that happened. For treatment, the patient must seek the help of a neurologist.
Treatment and relief for full body cramps
How then can a patient help himself? Unfortunately, nothing. During such attacks, it is necessary that the person is surrounded by people who can provide some help. If an epileptic seizure begins, the patient must be correctly placed: on the side or face down. At the same time, everything needs to be done so that the patient receives air without any problems (since attacks are often accompanied by a short-term respiratory arrest). It is also believed that at the time of seizures of the body a person does not control himself and can "swallow" his tongue. To avoid this, the patient needs to insert a stick or something solid in his teeth that will prevent his mouth from closing. What medications can be prescribed for such types of seizures?
- The drug "Phenobarbital", which is sold exclusively by prescription. It is an anticonvulsant drug that also calms the nervous system and has sleeping pills.
- Also, doctors often in such cases prescribe the drug "Carbamazepine". An excellent tool in the fight against epileptic seizures. However, it is also not dispensed without a doctor’s prescription.
Arm cramps
It was the turn to consider a problem such as hand cramps. Causes, treatment of this problem - this will be discussed now. First of all, it should be said that cramps in the hands most often occur in older people. Why so?
- Lack of important trace elements in the body: potassium, calcium and magnesium. It is these substances that provide the supply of nerve impulses to muscle fibers.
- Fluid deficiency in the body.
- Frequent stresses.
- Circulatory disorders in the hands.
- Long-term use of certain medications, especially diuretics.
Hand cramp treatment
So, hand cramps: causes, treatment of this problem. It is worth saying that in this case a person does not lose consciousness and therefore can help himself. Stroking and light hand massage, rubbing will be useful. If possible, it is better for a different person to do this (relative, doctor). If the seizures are localized in one area of the arm, they can be prevented by periodic massage of this part of the body (this will improve blood circulation in the arm). And, of course, in this case, taking a vitamin-mineral complex will be useful.
Leg cramps
Now I want to consider in more detail just leg cramps: the causes and treatment of this problem. First of all, I want to say that in the legs it most often reduces the calf muscle. The reasons for this may be as follows:
- Varicose veins, i.e. impaired blood circulation in the legs.
- Flat feet can also provoke the appearance of a convulsive syndrome.
- Physical overload can cause leg cramps.
- As mentioned above, a deficiency of trace elements such as calcium, magnesium and potassium can cause leg cramps.
- The cause may also be violations in the endocrine system.
Treatment
We further consider leg cramps: causes and treatment. To get rid of this problem, you first need to know the source of its occurrence. If this is a symptom of a certain disease, it is necessary to treat it. If convulsions occur from time to time, in this case it is necessary to massage and rub the legs in the place of twitching (if it is varicose, it is strictly forbidden to do this, in this case, you can slightly bandage the legs before going to bed). Also, a vitamin-mineral complex and a decrease in physical activity on the leg will be useful.
Night leg twitching
Quite often, a person has night leg cramps. Causes, treatment of this problem - this will be discussed now. At the very beginning, it must be said that one of the main causes of this problem is precisely a deficiency in the body of magnesium and calcium. Also, night cramps can occur as a result of daytime leg overloads. Such phenomena quite often disturb smokers and heavy coffee lovers.
Getting rid of the problem
We further consider night leg cramps: causes, treatment. How can you get rid of this problem? So, you will not have to use any medications here. You just need to find out the cause of the problem and deal with it. That is, if a person smokes, you must give up nicotine. If the cause is exorbitant physical activity, it is necessary to make the legs less exposed to overload.
Self help for night cramps
What else is important to know if a person has leg cramps at night? It is useful to know everyone the reasons, treatment for such symptoms. However, you also need to know how you can provide yourself first aid during an unpleasant and painful muscle contraction.
- If you “rolled” your leg, you should sit in bed at the very beginning, lower your legs to the floor. Well put them on a cool surface. This will help improve blood circulation.
- If the pain during cramp is severe, pinch or prick the leg.
- Throughout the cramp, the leg needs to be massaged, rubbed, patted. This will help restore normal blood circulation.
- Place cramps can also be anointed with apple cider vinegar, alcohol or vodka. Warming ointments also work well .
Prevention of leg cramps
We have already said that quite often occurring phenomenon is leg muscle cramps. Causes, treatment of the problem - this is also fully discussed above. However, to avoid this, it is best to know and apply preventative measures. What will be relevant in this case?
- Comfortable shoes are important. It is also good if it is made from natural materials.
- Excessive stress on the legs should be avoided.
- It is necessary to reduce the consumption of coffee and sugar to the maximum. Nicotine and alcohol should be completely abandoned.
- Be sure to change the diet. Products should be rich in potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins.
- An excellent prophylactic is regular foot massage. To do this, you can either turn to professionals or just massage yourself and rub your feet before bedtime.
- Well and one more useful remedy - contrast foot baths.
Traditional medicine
What to do if a person is disturbed by muscle cramps? Reasons, drug treatment - this information is known. However, with this problem, you can also seek advice from traditional medicine.
- Cloves. You can cope with cramps if you take about 500 mg of cloves with sugar daily.
- You can also rub the cramp with mustard oil.
- Lemon will help cope with leg cramps. A slice of lemon should be rubbed daily for two weeks. After the foot is completely dry, you can wear socks. This remedy works great if toe cramps are common (causes, treatment of this problem are the same as with general leg cramps).
- Even if you just take a tablespoon of honey daily before meals, you can get rid of cramps.