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NewDayNews Health Matters

Believe it or Not
By:Linda Tx
Date: Saturday, 22 July 2006, 3:17 am
In Response To: leg cramp!! yeeeoooww! (mir)

Hey, Mir! Here are some exercises you can try:

--Walking briskly to the fridge to get a frozen Snickers.
--Getting up to feed the cat
--Chasing your husband around the front lawn while the neighbors cheer you on.
--Getting a paper route.

Hey, just kidding here. I remember having some AWFUL leg cramps when I was 17 years old and 9 months pregnant. So here's something useful on the subject:

"Here are a few tips that may help prevent leg cramps:
1 Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Doctors recommend six to eight glasses everyday.
2 Massage your muscles before going to bed.
3 Stretch daily, before and after exercise.
4 Maintain a well-balanced diet and eat foods high in calcium (such as milk and cheese), potassium (bananas and dates), and Vitamin E (spinach and sweet potatoes).

If you have a leg cramp, gently stretch and massage the muscle. You can apply a warm heating pad to the area to help calm the cramping muscle and reduce discomfort.

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) can help reduce the pain of leg cramps.

Some people try natural remedies such as vitamin E, vitamin B6, magnesium, butcher’s broom and MSM to prevent leg cramps. However, there is no convincing evidence that these supplements are effective for treating or preventing leg cramps."

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