# Leg cramps and potassium **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 2, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165 "2024-08-02T19:01:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2024, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165/21 "2024-08-03T21:04:01Z")
A doctor can order blood tests for your potassium levels, as well as for other electrolytes. That’s a way you can know objectively whether you need more potassium. There are many other possible causes of leg cramps, such as calcium deficiency, magnesium deficiency, hypothyroidism, diabetes. . . Why assume it’s potassium? It’s probably best to tell your doctor, who can order a bunch of tests to figure out the actual problem. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165/22 "2024-08-05T00:05:02Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > Why assume it’s potassium? If you exercise a lot , you’re going to be losing a lot of potassium (also sodium) in your sweat. Cramps due to low electrolyte usually happen in the muscles that have been exercised the most. So the OP guessing that their leg cramps are due to low potassium is reasonable. It’s always a danger for endurance athletes. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165/23 "2024-08-05T11:53:15Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > That comes to 72 ounces of liquid by my mathematics. I don’t even count the replacement drink because the cycling in and of itself made him lose liquid and electrolytes. So, we’re dealing with 40 ounces of water for the rest of what I assume is a normal day. ## How many ounces of water should the average person drink? I found the following figures cited in 3 different sources, but I give here the one below. [**On average, a healthy adult should take in the following amounts of water per day:**](https://www.geisinger.org/health-and-wellness/wellness-articles/2023/02/22/18/15/how-much-water-to-drink-per-day) - **125 ounces** (15.5 cups or 3.7 liters) for men - **91 ounces** (11.5 cups or 2.7 liters) for women ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2024, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165/24 "2024-08-05T15:23:15Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > If you exercise a lot , you’re going to be losing a lot of potassium (also sodium) in your sweat. . . That means low potassium is a possible cause of the cramps, maybe even the likely cause. It doesn’t mean it’s the only possibility A simple blood test would provide better evidence than what we know already. There have been many times when I was pretty sure of something, only to find out I was wrong. That happens to everyone, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165/25 "2024-08-07T00:01:30Z")
Most recent bloodwork: Potassium - 4.4 Calcium - 9.7 Sodium - 141 All w/i normal range (as far as I know) but the blood wasn’t drawn when I was having cramps, obviously. I didn’t mention that I very commonly (all the time?) have these little micro cramps or spasms in my calf. If sit with my feet flat on the floor or with my legs crossed with my ankle on the opposite knee, I can see twitching going on just beneath the skin. Sometimes it look like there’s something alive under there. I can’t feel this but it is plain to see. Weird. I never remember to mention this to my doc but assume its benign. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165/26 "2024-08-07T00:05:08Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > I can see twitching going on just beneath the skin. Sometimes it look like there’s something alive under there. I can’t feel this but it is plain to see. Weird. I never remember to mention this to my doc but assume its benign. The word to use is _fasciculation_, > **[Fasciculation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fasciculation)** > > A fasciculation, or muscle twitch, is a spontaneous, involuntary muscle contraction and relaxation, involving fine muscle fibers. They are common, with as many as 70% of people experiencing them. They can be benign, or associated with more serious conditions. When no cause or pathology is identified, they are diagnosed as benign fasciculation syndrome. > The most effective way to detect fasciculations may be surface electromyography (EMG). Surface EMG is more sensitive than needle electromyograph... ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165/27 "2024-08-07T00:09:38Z")
> [@susan](#): > > You might also want to look at magnesium. Yep. Magnesium really helps with nighttime leg cramps, and better sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2024, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165/28 "2024-08-07T12:43:40Z")
Magnesium is available in pills or as a spray to rub into affected body parts. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2024, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165/29 "2024-08-17T17:25:07Z")
People’s Pharmacy on NPR this a.m. (and many times previously) said that swallowing yellow mustard when they occur has been beneficial. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2024, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165/30 "2024-08-18T03:51:03Z")
I get severe cramps in my forearms and hands. A heating pad helps. I try to start applying the heat early before it’s a full blown cramp. It often keeps me from developing the most intense pain. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2024, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165/31 "2024-08-18T03:55:25Z")
> [@Ignatz](#): > > People’s Pharmacy on NPR this a.m. (and many times previously) said that swallowing yellow mustard when they occur has been beneficial. Quack science, NPR should be ashamed- > **[Mustard for Cramps: Is It Helpful?](https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mustard-for-cramps)** > > Cramps are usually not serious, but they can be very painful. This article reviews the current research on mustard's ability to serve as a remedy for leg cramps. ## _Does mustard help with cramps?_ _Currently, no evidence supports mustard’s ability to reduce or prevent leg cramps]_ ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2024, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165/32 "2024-08-22T21:49:47Z")
Same as a bar of soap under the sheets near your feet. I just started taking magnesium citrate daily but don’t hold out much hope. I took a magnesium/calcium supplement a while back. It may have helped, maybe not. Its hard to repeat conditions, at least when it comes to outdoor bike riding. Temp, humidity and wind all change daily and I ride only every other day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leg-cramps-and-potassium/1005165.md?page=1)