Leg cramps in the elderly are not necessarily caused by calcium deficiency. There are several other reasons that need attention.

A friend in his 60s told Huazi that his legs always cramped, both when he walked a lot during the day and when he slept at night. He thought he was calcium deficient due to his age, but after taking calcium tablets for several months, there was no relief.

Huazi suggested that he go to the hospital for a checkup because he had leg pain due to walking too much, which might be a problem with the blood vessels in his lower limbs. Soon after, he received feedback that he had been diagnosed with atherosclerosis in his lower limbs and a section of his artery had been severely narrowed. After the doctor placed a stent, his cramps disappeared.

1. Calcium deficiency can cause cramps

If someone says that he has leg cramps, people around him will definitely say that he is calcium deficient. This is because if the serum calcium level is low, it will cause neuromuscular hyperreactivity , leading to increased muscle tension. At this time, a slight stimulation will cause the muscles to move involuntarily and enter a spasm state.

Muscle spasms caused by calcium deficiency not only affect skeletal muscles, but also smooth muscles. If it occurs in the bronchi, it will cause bronchial contraction and asthma. If it occurs in the gastrointestinal smooth muscle, it will weaken the digestive function and even induce digestive tract obstruction.

Second, lower limb artery occlusion is also a common cause

In China, the incidence of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease can reach 20%, which is also a common cause of "cramp" symptoms . Atherosclerosis caused by risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes not only occurs in important organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys, but also affects the lower extremity arteries.

Atherosclerotic plaques can cause stenosis or occlusion of the lower limb arteries, resulting in reduced blood supply. When the amount of exercise increases, the lower limb muscles do not receive sufficient blood supply, causing pain and fatigue. Patients will be forced to take a short rest before continuing to walk. This is called intermittent claudication, a typical symptom of lower limb artery stenosis .

You can check whether there is stenosis of the lower limb arteries by yourself. Touch the highest point in the middle of the dorsum of the foot with your hand. You can feel the pulsation of the dorsalis pedis artery. If the pulsation is weak or disappears, it indicates that there is stenosis of the lower limb arteries .

People with lower limb artery stenosis should quit smoking, control the "three highs", and use statins, aspirin and other drugs under the guidance of a doctor to delay the progression of the disease. Use drugs such as alprostadil and beraprost sodium to dilate blood vessels and improve symptoms.

For patients with severe conditions, the effect of medication will be very poor, and color ultrasound is needed to confirm the specific situation of stenosis, and arterial stents are used for treatment to restore blood supply.

3. Other causes of lower limb cramps

1. Environmental temperature stimulation : Cold lower limbs can stimulate blood vessel contraction, muscle nerve abnormalities, and can also induce cramps. The elderly should pay attention to keeping their lower limbs warm. In summer, the air conditioner should not be too cold, and the fan should not blow directly.

2. Lumbar disease : Lumbar disease can also cause cramps and leg pain. The common cause is that long-term incorrect sitting posture causes lumbar disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, and compression of the sciatic nerve. This will cause lower limb muscle imbalance and spasm. It is necessary to correct the sitting posture, physical therapy, acupuncture, and in severe cases, surgery is required to restore the lumbar position.

3. Body temperature stimulation : When infected by viruses, bacteria and other pathogens, if high fever occurs, it will also cause muscle spasms. Antipyretic drugs should be used in time to lower the body temperature.

4. Central nervous system diseases : central nervous system diseases such as cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, epilepsy, etc. can cause tonic spasms and symptoms of cramps.

To sum up, the elderly have many underlying diseases. When they have symptoms of leg cramps, it is not necessarily due to calcium deficiency. It is recommended to seek medical attention in time and treat the disease after the cause is determined. The drug must be used under the guidance of a doctor. If you have any questions about the use of the drug, please consult a doctor or pharmacist. I am pharmacist Huazi, welcome to follow me and share more health knowledge.