Health Tip: Why Do I Get Muscle Cramps?

A list of common causes

October 7, 2009 RSS Feed Print

(HealthDay News) -- A muscle cramp is a painful contraction that may make the muscle feel hard or bulging.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers this list of common triggers:

Drinking too much alcohol.
Not drinking enough water.
Exercising heavily or having muscles that are fatigued from overuse.
Having hypothyroidism, a thyroid gland that doesn't produce enough of a certain hormone.
Having kidney failure.
Taking certain medications.
Being pregnant.
Consuming insufficient amounts of calcium or magnesium.