Video: All about night cramps

A recent survey discovered that only 20% of us are getting a decent 8 hours sleep a night. Many of us are suffering from so-called "junk sleep" where we are disturbed in our sleep up to 90 times a night.

A leading cause of this was reported to be night cramps, with 80% suffering from these painful nuscle spasms. These occur because the muscle is already contracted when something stimulates it to contract further, causing the spasms. This causes soreness that can last for days and can disturb your sleep.

Causes of night cramps

The causes are not very clear, but some theories suggest that factors such as tiredness, poor circulation, dehydration or poor posture all play a part, as can calcium deficiency. But is more likely to happen when the body is at rest, as when sleeping, which is why stretching exercises can help.

Who suffers from night cramps?

Anyone can suffer, but it is more prevalent in people over 50 – research suggests over 70% of them are victims. Women are also more likely to suffer from leg cramps than men.

What can be done to relieve the pain of night cramps?

Massaging or heating of the affected area can help, for instance by rubbing vigorously or gently stretching. Using an electric blanket to warm the affected area might relieve the symptoms as well - sleeping in a cold may contribute to night spasms.

What treatments are available for night cramps?

A traditional method to treat night cramps is with Quinine – which is found in tonic water.

It is also available in table form as a prescription from your doctor- over 3.5 m prescriptions for it are made out ever year.

However there are a number of possible side effects, which include tinnitus – a ringing in the ear, which can happen even with low doses of quinine. It can also react with other medicines and is not recommended for pregnant or breast feeding women. It can also cause issues for people with heart problems.

It is also technically possible to overdose on quinine as it is toxic when taken in large amounts.

How is Crampex different?

It contains a number of ingredients to treat the effects of night cramps. These are Nictonic acid, which improves poor circulation, a calcium supplement to correct calcium deficiency, and also Vitamin D3 which helps with the absorption of the calcium.

It does not cause the side effects associated with quinine and it is available directly from your pharmacist.

Is there anything that can be done to prevent night cramps from occurring?

Yes there are. For instance, don’t wear tight pyjamas, and keep your bed clothes loose as well. Try regular stretching exercises to keep your muscles supple, if it’s a cold night use an electric blanket to keep your bed warm. Generally taking regular exercise such as walking or swimming should also help.

Further information

Visit www.goodsleepadvice.com – you can even request a free leaflet.

This article was published on Thu 25 June 2009