The elderly often experience calf cramps at night, especially when the temperature changes greatly from season to season, the pain is unbearable and affects sleep. If calf cramps are caused by hypocalcemia, it may be life-threatening in severe cases. Let’s talk about how to deal with nighttime calf cramps and ways to relieve them.
Except for pregnant women, calf cramps are more common in the elderly, especially those with weak constitution and poor nutrition. Current research believes that one of the main reasons is the decrease in serum calcium ion concentration, also known as hypocalcemia, resulting in increased nerve and muscle excitability. Other causes include hypothermia stimulation, less clothing, unwarmed bedding, prolonged sitting, and lower extremity fatigue due to excessive walking, and prolonged lower extremity bending during sleep.
Among these triggers, hypocalcemia is the most concerning. Hypocalcemia is a phenomenon in which blood calcium is lower than the normal value, which is a disorder of calcium metabolism. Because the physiological role of calcium depends on free calcium (ie, ionized calcium), hypocalcemia generally also refers to free calcium below the normal value (<1.1mmol/L).
Hypocalcemia is usually asymptomatic, but the consequences can be severe if left unchecked. The severity of its symptoms is not completely consistent with the degree of blood calcium reduction, but is related to the speed and duration of blood calcium reduction. This disease can cause neuromuscular system, cardiovascular system, bone and skin and soft tissue diseases; voluntary muscle and smooth muscle spasm can occur, leading to convulsions and seizures; can cause asthma; even cardiac arrest.
In terms of first aid methods, nighttime calf cramps can be treated like this:
1. Press the Renzhong acupoint with the thumb or the pulp of the index finger until the acupoint has a soreness feeling;< /p>
2. Sit up immediately, straighten your legs, and then use both hands to forcefully push the soles of the feet toward the instep;
3. Press the sides of the heels with your thumb and forefinger, and rub hard up and down
4. Immediately get out of bed and move around after the cramp occurs, and push down with the forefoot of the affected foot.
Prevention and treatment of calf cramps in the elderly, if it is clearly caused by low blood calcium, the main measure is calcium supplementation, calcium gluconate tablets, calcium lactate and other drugs can be taken orally, and at the same time, high calcium content and rich nutrition should be taken food, such as milk, beans, dried shrimp, kelp, etc. In addition, more outdoor activities, more sun exposure, avoid low temperature stimulation and excessive fatigue, calf cramps will be significantly improved. If the cramp does not improve and there are signs of aggravation, it is recommended to seek medical treatment in time.
Source: Beijing Daily Author: Ma Rui (Author: Beijing Emergency Center)
Process Editor: u019
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