Are leg cramps and chronic venous diseases linked?
Leg cramps correspond to sudden painful muscle contractions, common at night, and often occur in the calf. How can they be linked to chronic venous diseases?
What is a leg cramp?1
Nocturnal or night leg cramps may also be called muscle spasm, muscle contraction, kink, crick, knot, stitch, or charley horse. They are sudden, jerky, involuntary muscle contractions that occur at night, often involving the calf or foot muscles. The cramps can be quite painful and cause the muscle to ache over the next few days.
The painful cramps may suddenly awaken one from sleep. Although the cramps usually affect the calf or foot, they may also occur in the thighs or arms. During a leg cramp, the involved muscle can be firm or hard and may be tender. The joints or limbs may be forced into unusual positions. The foot may forcefully point downwards with the toes curled. It may last for a few seconds or up to several minutes before spontaneously going away on its own or with forceful stretching. The muscle may feel tender, making it hard to go back to sleep, and the soreness may last for a few hours or even a few days.
Most adults have experienced at least one episode of leg cramps. About one-third of people over the age of 50 have nocturnal leg cramps, but they may also occur during the day. Nocturnal leg cramps could be slightly more common in women, especially during pregnancy. The cramps may occur occasionally, but 40% of those who have nocturnal leg cramps have them 3 times per week and 6% have them daily and experience significant distress.
Although leg cramps themselves are not harmful, they can lead to disruption of sleep and insomnia, which then can lead to health problems.
Understanding the link between leg cramps and chronic venous disease1-3
Chronic venous disease is a common pathology of the circulatory system, with significant physical and psychological impacts for patients. The signs of chronic venous disease in the legs are variable, and include spider veins, varicose veins, edema, or skin changes such as eczema, hyperpigmentation, and induration. In more severe cases, skin or venous ulceration can also be present.
Symptoms of chronic venous disease include various degrees and forms of leg discomfort, such as pain or aching, swelling, heaviness, burning, and cramps. Indeed, leg cramps occurring at night are a common symptom of venous disease. In fact, they may constitute the second most common symptom in people with venous disease with a prevalence of 14.3%. In particular, varicose veins and underlying venous insufficiency are a common cause of night cramps, or leg cramps occurring at night. They most frequently affect the upper legs, causing cramping in the thigh but may cause calf cramping.
Healthy veins collect the de-oxygenated blood from the tissues. The venous blood, which is low in oxygen and high in waste products, is returned to the heart and lungs where it is replenished with oxygen and nutrients. In diseased veins, the blood circulates poorly, allowing blood to pool and become stagnant. The exact mechanism that causes cramping in the legs is uncertain, but when the cramping is caused by poorly functioning veins, the symptoms are often alleviated by correcting the underlying problem. Indeed, conservative measures, such as elevating the legs, walking regularly, and wearing compression stockings may reduce the frequency of night cramps.
How can leg cramps be prevented?1
Tired legs may be prevented by following the strategies below:
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Achieve at least 30 min/day of moderate intensity exercise
- Stretch the legs, especially your calves and hamstrings, prior to sleep
- Increase potassium and magnesium-rich foods in the diet such as broccoli, bananas, citrus fruit, leafy greens, nuts, or avocado
- Avoid alcohol and stimulants such as nicotine, pseudoephedrine (decongestants), and caffeine
- Keep the bed sheets loose and not tucked in at the foot of the bed
How can leg cramps be treated?1
The symptoms of tired legs are usually relieved with walking around or stretching the muscle.
Indeed, when a leg cramp occurs, getting out of bed to walk around may help relieve it. Some people also find relief with using heat, such as a warm shower or warm compresses, and/or massage.
For severe pain, stretching the cramped muscle may relieve the pain. If the cramp is in the foot, the toes may curl; they can be stretched by bending them in the opposite direction. To relieve a calf cramp, pointing the foot upward toward the knee, with the knee straightened, can help to stretch it out. If the cramp is in the thigh, bending or straightening the knee and hip can help.
If you experience symptoms of chronic venous disease, it is important not to hesitate to consult your doctor to get a proper diagnose and treatment.
