While it’s good to have fun in the sun, not staying hydrated during hot temperatures can lead to some scary results.
Dizziness, dry mouth and dark yellow pee are symptoms of dehydration that we have become accustomed to.
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But a doctor has now warned about an unpleasant symptom that can appear in your legs if you don’t drink enough H2O, as well as if you don’t get enough vital nutrients such as magnesium.
Dr. Paul Wischmeyer, an anesthesiologist at Duke University Hospital in North Carolina, shared a shocking video online of what appears to be an “alien creature” writhing around someone’s leg.
In the clip, a patient’s calf appears to have something inside it moving.
But instead of revealing evidence of extraterrestrial life, Dr. Wischmeyer explained that it was a case of severe muscle cramps in the legs.
He said: “Leg cramp is an episode of sudden pain in the leg muscles caused by an involuntary and forced contraction (shortening) of that muscle that does not relax.
“The video shows a visible and palpable hardening of the muscle involved.
“Most cramps occur in the calf muscles and, less commonly, in the feet and thighs and can last from a few seconds to 10 to 15 minutes.
“They are extremely common and can be very frustrating for both the patient and the doctor, in part because most cases of leg cramps are idiopathic (cause unknown).”
The expert compared this specific case to an “alien creature”.
In some cases, leg cramps can be caused by not drinking enough water and low magnesium levels.
He warned: “Low magnesium can cause some muscle cramps, so avoid dehydration and maintain your magnesium levels.”
Fortunately, leg cramps are usually harmless.
But Dr. Wischmeyer advised that if you are getting an evaluation, check for peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease.
Other disorders can also manifest as leg cramps, such as tetany, myalgia, and restless leg syndrome.
There is no specific medical treatment for leg cramps, but calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem are effective in treating nocturnal leg cramps, the doctor said.
The NHS states that during a cramp it can help to stretch and massage the muscle to relieve pain.
Regular calf stretching exercises can also help reduce cramping.
But if leg cramps disturb your sleep, you have numbness or swelling in your legs, or cramps that last more than 10 minutes, the health service recommends consulting your family doctor.
It says that the possible causes are:
- Aging
- Putting too much pressure on your muscles during exercise, which can be worse in hot weather
- Pregnancy
- Certain medications, such as cholesterol-lowering medications
- Not drinking enough fluids
- Liver disease due to excessive alcohol consumption
Danger of dehydration
These are some of the health problems that can occur if you don’t drink enough fluids…
Heat exhaustion or heatstroke
If you don’t drink enough fluids and you’re exercising too much, you could end up with heat exhaustion and potentially fatal heatstroke.
Heart problems
Untreated severe dehydration can cause problems with the heart and circulatory system.
When you’re dehydrated, there’s less blood pumping around your body, which can cause low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting.
The heart may also begin to beat faster in an attempt to move blood around the body, and this can result in palpitations.
The blood may also become thicker, which increases the risk of blood clots and heart attacks.
Kidney problems
Prolonged or repeated bouts of dehydration can cause urinary tract infections, kidney stones and kidney failure.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
