Question
I get bad cramps in my feet, legs, thighs and sometimes fingers, from work. What can I do to prevent them and/or stop them once they start? They become debilitating at times and they keep me from getting the sleep that I need.
Answer
Common causes of muscle cramps include dehydration and deficiencies of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium. Most cramps can be eliminated by proper hydration (eight glasses a day of water), decreasing caffeine intake, and including a healthy amount of foods such as bananas, broccoli, tomatoes and citrus fruits in the diet.
If the cramps are happening from sitting at a desk all day, then get up and stretch for five minutes every hour - and get a glass of water. If the cramps are happening at night and the water and diet changes are not doing the trick, sometimes adding an ankle splint that keeps the toes pointing toward the ceiling can be helpful.
If that doesn't work, see your doctor. Statin drugs for high cholesterol are a common culprit of muscle cramps and there are many other uncommon causes that your physician might explore with routine blood testing and a good physical examination.