Muscle Cramps

Muscle cramps usually come on without warning

Muscle cramps are common in healthy people, especially middle-aged and older adults

Cramps can happen during or right after hard exercise, or while you're in bed at night

Muscle cramps very rarely are a symptom of a nerve problem

Harmless cramps that happen for no reason

Exercise (either during exercise or right after)

Your calf muscles are tight from not stretching

You sit for long periods of time

You don't have enough minerals (electrolytes Overview of Electrolytes Electrolytes are minerals that circulate in your blood. These minerals are also in your stomach juices, in your stool (poop), in your urine, and inside your body's tissues. Salt (sodium) is... read more ) in your blood, which can happen if you take diuretics (water pills), are in your last months of pregnancy, or have problems such as low vitamin D Vitamin D Deficiency Vitamin D deficiency is most commonly caused by a lack of exposure to sunlight. Some disorders can also cause the deficiency. The most common cause is lack of exposure to sunlight, usually when... read more or alcohol use disorder Alcohol Use Alcohol (ethanol) is a depressant (it slows down brain and nervous system functioning). Consuming large amounts rapidly or regularly can cause health problems, including organ damage, coma,... read more

You're on dialysis Dialysis for kidney problems

Your thyroid doesn’t make enough hormone (hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism Hypothyroidism is underactivity of the thyroid gland that leads to inadequate production of thyroid hormones and a slowing of vital body functions. Facial expressions become dull, the voice... read more )

You take certain medicines

Cramps in your chest, arms, or belly

Weakness or losing feeling in parts of your body

Muscle twitches

Cramps started after you lost a lot of body fluids from throwing up, sweating a lot, having diarrhea, or taking diuretics (medicine that makes you urinate [pee] more)

You frequently have leg cramps that come while walking and go away as soon as you stop

Your cramps started after you began taking a new medicine

You drink a lot of alcohol Alcohol-related disorders Alcohol (ethanol) is a depressant (it slows down brain and nervous system functioning). Consuming large amounts rapidly or regularly can cause health problems, including organ damage, coma,... read more

Stretching the muscle

Gently stretch your muscles before you exercise or go to bed

After you exercise, drink water and other fluids (especially sports drinks, which have electrolytes)

Don’t do a lot of hard exercise right after you eat