Cramps are very painful. However, no matter how painful they are, they do not pose much danger to your health. It is a kind of condition that suddenly appears but quickly ends. Normally, you can remove the pain by stretching the affected area or by using cold compress. The only way cramps can cause long-term damage to your body is when the cause is a risky medical condition. To help you figure out whether your cramps are still good for you or not, here are some of the most common causes that you need to know and understand.
The first common cause is inadequate blood supply. If your body is an agricultural field, then your blood is the main irrigation system. Without good irrigation, the plants in the field will have problems and eventually wither. The same is true for your body. Without a good supply of blood, your muscles will not get the nutrients they need. As a result, they will have problems functioning efficiently and pain will arise. Inadequate blood supply can be dangerous to your body because blood contains the essential nutrients, minerals and oxygen that all organs in your body need.
The second common cause is mineral depletion. This happens when the amount of minerals in your body is insufficient to support the different bodily functions. Some of the most important minerals that affect cramping are potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium. Lack of minerals happens when you do not intake the right foods or when you take diuretic medications that encourage excretion of the minerals along with urine.
The third common cause is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This disease is quite serious therefore you need to consult a doctor immediately if you experience cramps because of this condition. Sclerosis is progressive so you need to stop its progress as soon as possible. One of the dangers that is involved is the damage of your spinal cord along with the nerve cells.
The fourth common cause is Parkinson's disease. This is another cause of cramps that can do damage to your body on a long-term basis. It is a neurological disorder that affects the brain. People with this illness normally experience muscle spasms frequently. Although there are medications that prevent the frequent occurrence of spasms, they are still inevitable especially when the degree of severity is high.
The last common cause of cramps that may pose danger to your health that will be discussed in this article is poliomyelitis. This condition is caused by a virus and affects the nerves of the body. It can lead to paralysis. The most evident symptoms include difficulty in breathing and muscle spasms. Polio can be very dangerous to the body as it can lead to full paralysis or death depending on the severity.
These are some of the causes of cramps that can pose danger to your health. Cramp, in itself, is not dangerous. However, if it is caused by a medical condition, you will have to consult your doctor as early as possible.