Exercise and varicose veins
Painful, unpredictable and, when happening at night, severely disruptive of sleep, leg cramps can be caused by a variety of factors.
- Varicose veins
- Sudden increase or decrease in physical exercise
- Dehydration
- Lack of magnesium causing poor absorption of calcium
Lying in bed will exacerbate stagnation in weak or varicose veins, so night times can be worse for people whose veins are in poor shape.
– Apply Venagel Horse Chestnut gel to the legs before going to bed. Smooth it on with upward strokes.
– Place feet upon a pillow to reduce pooling of blood in the legs during the night.
– Longer term, treat varicose veins with Horse Chestnut.
Cramps caused by magnesium deficiency may be exacerbated by stress, as the nervous system uses up a great deal of magnesium.
Magnesium is very important for the proper functioning of the adrenal glands, which produce adrenalin when you’re stressed. As magnesium is also needed for other things such as keeping your muscles relaxed and free from knots, you’ll notice when the adrenals are soaking it all up and leaving less for your muscles.
- Take Salus Haus liquid magnesium and A.Vogel Urticalcin to assist better magnesium/calcium balance.
- Increase intake of magnesium rich foods, such as brazils, cashews, sesame seeds, soya, haricots and kidney beans, chickpeas, millet, oats, brown rice, figs, spinach, dark green vegetables, dried apricots, buckwheat and bananas
- Avoid magnesium-draining caffeine
- Diuretic medication may reduce magnesium levels so discuss the cramps with your doctor if you are taking diuretics
Dehydration is an easily rectified cause of cramps. Drink at least 1.5 litres of still, plain water daily and keep caffeinated drinks to a minimum. If you are keen on fizzy drinks this may be a key reason for the cramps, so start to cut down.
Stretching exercises carried out before and after physical exercise will reduce the likelihood of cramping muscles. If you exercise regularly and then have to stop for some reason, maintain daily stretches to stop your exercise-accustomed muscles cramping up in protest at the inactivity.
Drink plenty of water when exercising to avoid a painful combination of dehydration and exercise-induced cramping. Potassium-rich foods will also help – green, leafy vegetables, wholegrains, sunflower and sesame seeds, bananas, apricots, figs, raisins, soya and butterbeans, chickpeas, brazils, walnuts, avocados and blackcurrants.
