Do you often experience foot cramps at night? It may be caused due to dehydration. Dehydration is one of the most common causes of foot cramps. Luckily, it is easily treatable and preventable. Learn the connection between dehydration and foot cramps and what’s the solution in this article. Log on to www.doralhw.org for a consultation.
Connection Between Dehydration and Foot Cramps
Dehydration is the most common cause of foot cramps. Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids and electrolytes than are required to function properly. The body needs water for its daily functions. Water not only regulates the body temperature but also helps blood carry nutrients throughout your entire body, which is necessary for managing your electrolyte levels. Electrolytes like calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium are nutrients that are necessary in helping muscles to contract and relax. If you don’t have enough water in your body to regulate those electrolytes, then your muscles won’t work properly.
Now when you’re dehydrated, you feel extremely thirsty and fatigued in mild cases, while in severe cases, it can cause fatigue, decreased urination, extreme thirst, dizziness, and cramps as well. Severe cases of dehydration can be life-threatening because they lead to severe complications, which require medical intervention.
Dehydration causes electrolyte imbalances which makes the muscles contract involuntarily and become rigid, resulting in painful cramps. Dehydration may also cause muscle spasms, often in the calf or thigh muscles. Dehydration also reduces blood flow to the muscles, which impairs their ability to receive oxygen and nutrients, which also makes them prone to cramps. So, all these factors caused by dehydration lead to foot cramps or other muscle cramps in the body.
Symptoms
Foot cramps can make you feel intense, rigid muscle contraction in the foot or toe muscles which are painful, tighten your muscles, and can last for some seconds or minutes. It can occur in the arch of the foot, around the toes, or at the top of the feet. Sometimes, foot cramps occur at night and interrupt sleep.
Besides foot cramps, dehydration also causes early signs that your body needs water. You should not ignore those signs and take action promptly. It includes:
- Dry flaky, or itchy skin particularly if lips are chapped.
- Not able to balance yourself when you’re walking or jogging.
- Stiffness or soreness in the feet and ankles, especially in the morning.
- Brittle toenails, or color shift in your toenails.
Solution for foot cramps due to dehydration
To manage foot cramps caused by dehydration, you need to drink plenty of water or drinks that contain electrolytes. It helps you replenish the electrolytes and water that are required to make muscles work properly. Studies show drinking only water after intense activity will more likely lead to cramps since it imbalances electrolyte levels, so, drinking an electrolyte can lower the risk of dehydration.
- Some stretching and massage can help you relieve cramps.
- You can stand and step forward with the unaffected leg while bending the toes and stretching out the calf muscle of the affected leg.
- You can also sit with your legs outstretched and pull back your toes with your hands.
- You can also take a hot shower and bath to relieve cramps.
Staying hydrated is the best way to prevent these cramps. So you should drink plenty of water throughout the day. Here are some tips that can help you drink more water throughout the day, including:
- Carry a reusable water bottle as a physical reminder and drink water whenever you feel thirsty.
- Set regular reminders on your phone to ensure you drink more water.
- Drink water the first thing when you wake up.
- Add lemon or other citrus fruits to your water sometimes to enhance flavor.
- You can take an electrolyte mix to reduce mild dehydration effects and boost electrolyte levels.
- Eat healthy fruits and veggies as snacks throughout the day to increase the electrolyte intake.
Dehydration can cause muscle cramps by lowering electrolyte levels and reducing blood flow which delivers electrolytes and oxygen to make sure muscles contract and relax properly. However, dehydration causes muscle cramps that are easily treatable and preventable. Just make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day with the help of the above-mentioned tips and do some stretching or massage to relieve muscle cramps.
If you’re experiencing severe dehydration, visit our clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical treatment. Call us to book your appointment now!!!!!
The doctors at Doral Health & Wellness consistently have outstanding patient satisfaction ratings. The professionals at Doral Health & Wellness Urgent Care Brooklyn can greatly improve their patient’s health and quality of life because of their vast training and experience. New Yorkers can get the greatest medical, surgical, and cardiovascular care at Doral Health & Wellness Brooklyn. Visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.
