Leg Cramps During The Day

If you frequently get leg cramps when walking or climbing, you may be experiencing INTERMITTENT  CLAUDICATION, a decreased flow of oxygen-rich blood to the extremeties caused by fatty plaque build up in the leg arteries. This condition is the classic sign of Peripheral Arterial Disease, a progressive circulatory problem that is potentially life threatening.

Leg cramps, particularly in one leg can also be a sign of another potentially life threatening condition, Deep Vein Thrombosis. In Deep Vein Thrombosis a clot forms in a large vein and can easily break off and travel to the heart and lungs, leading to death. Other signs of Deep Vein Thrombosis, which usually come on fairly suddenly, are muscle tenderness or deep muscle pain, swelling, tenderness, warmth, and discoloration of the affected area.

Deep Vein Thrombosis occur more often in people over age 40 and those who are immobilized for a prolonged length of time from either illness, injury, or some other reason. In fact, Deep Vein Thrombosis is sometimes called Economy Class Syndrome or Traveler's Thrombosis because long flighted in confined coach cabins have led to Deep Vein Thrombosis related fatalities. Being cooped up causes blood to pool in the legs deep veins, setting the stage for dangerous clotting.

Women on hormone replacement therapy or those taking birth control pills are at increased risk of developing these deadly clots, as are pregnant women. People with clotting disorders or certain medical conditions that restrict mobility, such as heart failure or chronic respiratory disease, are at risk as well.

Also at high risk for developing these clots are people with broken legs, those undergoing surgery (especially orthopedic, pelvic, or abdominal operations), and cancer patients. And if you have had one episode of Deep Vein Thrombosis, you are at increased risk of having another.

If you have tenderness, swelling, redness, or warmth in one leg and then begin to have chest pain or trouble breathing, these can be signs of a pulmonary embolism, a potentially fatal complication of a Deep Vein Thrombosis.

No matter how long or short your plane flight is, get up and walk around periodically. This can help ward off Deep Vein Thrombosis. Wearing support stockings or socks, especially on long flights, can also help prevent this potentially deadly condition.

Deep Vein Thrombosis without an obvious precipitating cause may be one of the very earliest clues to cancer. In fact, the link between Deep Vein Thrombosis and cancer was first noted by the 19th century physician Armand Trousseau. Ironically, Trousseau himself later developed Deep Vein Thrombosis and was diagnosed with stomach cancer within a year.