Muscle Cramps
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What is a Muscle Cramp?
A spasm or jerk that tightens the muscle once or repeatedly and will not voluntarily relax.
Causes
A dietary deficiency of salt, potassium, or some other necessary electrolyte.
Symptoms
Quick or slow involuntary tightening of the muscles.
The inability to relax the muscle voluntarily.
Treatment
Slowly stretching the cramped muscle back out will temporarily alleviate the problem, but it can always reoccur.
Drinking a small amount of salt water or salting your food occasionally will remedy any salt deficiency. You can replenish a number of electrolytes by drinking a sports drink such as Gatorade.
The best treatment is to eat at least one banana every day to fulfull the body's potassium requirement.
Call your doctor if...
The muscle cramp cannot be alleviated within a few minutes.
There is a significant amount of heat or a fever associated with a repeatedly cramping muscle.
Prevention
Do the same thing you would do to treat it.
Be sure to stretch before and after any strenuous exercise.
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