Foot cramps are a fairly common phenomenon, especially at night, causing many people to wake up due to severe pain. Most people believe that this is just a consequence of age, lack of water or mineral deficiency.
However, according to Dr. Rema Malik, a vascular surgeon in Texas (USA), this condition is sometimes an early warning sign of serious vascular diseases.
Foot cramps are also known as muscle cramps, which are sudden, uncontrolled muscle spasms that often appear in the calves, soles or thighs.
The pain can last from a few seconds to a few minutes and leave a feeling of pain afterwards. According to statistics from Cleveland Clinic, about 60% of adults have experienced night leg cramps, while this rate in children and adolescents is about 40%. The incidence increases with age.
Because it is too common, many people choose to endure it. However, Dr. Rema Malik believes that regularly waking up from cramps should not be taken lightly. Ms. Malik emphasized two common underlying blood vessel causes of nighttime leg cramps.
Venous insufficiency
According to Dr. Malik, after a long day of standing or sitting a lot, blood tends to stagnate in the legs. When resting at night, this amount of blood and stagnant fluid contains many metabolic waste that can stimulate nerves and muscles, causing severe cramps. People with venous insufficiency often experience heavy legs, mild edema or venous eruption.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
Dr. Rema Malik said that this disease is related to blood circulation problems. This is a condition where arteries are narrow or blocked, causing oxygen-rich blood not to reach enough to nourish the leg muscles, even when the body is resting.
Slips in this case can appear when sleeping, accompanied by a feeling of pain, cold or numbness in the legs. If not detected early, PAD can lead to serious injury, even threatening the limb.
Dr. Malik warned that the risk of venous insufficiency increases significantly after age 40, while the risk of peripheral artery disease increases after age 50, especially in smokers, diabetics, hypertension, or dyslipidemia.
Experts recommend that if foot cramps occur frequently, persistently, or increasingly severely, patients should go for examination to assess the vascular system.
In addition, maintaining reasonable exercise, avoiding sitting or standing for too long, drinking enough water, eating balanced meals and controlling underlying diseases are important measures to help reduce the risk of cramps and protect long-term blood vessel health.
(The article is for reference only, not for professional advice. Always consult a doctor or medical expert if you have questions).
