Waking up in the middle of the night to a stabbing pain in your calf is more common than you might think. Nighttime leg cramps—sudden, involuntary contractions of the muscles, usually in the calves or feet—affect millions of people. Often brushed off as harmless or chalked up to aging or dehydration, these cramps can sometimes be your body’s way of signaling something deeper.
So when should you worry?
The Occasional Cramp: Usually Harmless
Most nighttime leg cramps are benign. They may result from:
- Overuse of muscles during the day
- Dehydration
- Prolonged standing or sitting
- Sleeping with feet in an awkward position
- Electrolyte imbalance (such as low magnesium, potassium, or calcium)
- Pregnancy
For many people, cramps happen now and then, go away with gentle stretching, and don’t return for weeks. But in some cases, these nighttime jolts are more than just an annoyance.
Continued on next page//
