Leg cramp

[Boto]

My partner has recently started to get cramp in his legs during the night. Is it possible that it's a symptom of anything serious?

[dot.hawkes]

bad circulation, is he on a cold building site all day or a hair dresser? does he smoke?

[Ethel]

Is he drinking more alcohol than usual?

Is he doing anything he didn't do before - taken up exercise, or stopped exercise? Or moved to a sedentary job from a physical job?

Has he changed his diet?

Is he otherwise well in himself?

[kwicky]

I have read recently that a person sitting at a computer for lengthy periods is at greater risk from thrombosis (blood clot in the leg) than someone on a long distance flight. Find the cause of his cramp first, then treat it!

[welshfox]

get him to drink tonic water - it relieves the symptoms of cramp- dont know why but it does. Worth seeing a doc too just to be safe

[Goodsoulette]

tonic water contains quinine, wuinine can in few cases help night cramps but it needs to be in much bigger doses than is in tonic water, you need to get it from the doctors. Its normally to do with body salts, if he drinks too much water he could be diluting them but if he isnt drinking enough then then they are concentrated and could be causing them. Magnesium and zinc deficiencies are a common cause of cramp. Eating a banana 2 hours before he goes to bed may help. Also stretching out the calf muscles by putting his tiptoes on the stairs and then dropping the heel down will help too.