My husband is 80. Recently he has been getting severe leg cramps especially at night. It keeps him up and is wearing him out. Is he lacking a mineral or vitamin? Also, his voice has become very weak. He doesn't understand why. He has had some heart issues and has 3 stents. Any insight would be helpful.
Try hydration and maybe a small bottle of tonic water. Quinine (in tonic water) has been used to treat leg cramps years ago. Please discuss this with his doctor as well.
My father had very painful leg cramps, even during the day. In his case it was peripheral vascular disease and would have to be handled by a doctor. If you husband has three stents already, it may be that he has some blockage in his leg. Minerals and heat may help some if there is blockage, but surgery is often the best option. If you think it is blockage, let his doctor know about the problem. I hope you can find something that helps.
That's not true. Ask anyone who has ever played sports or lived in a hot climate.
Low potassium can be caused by a variety of things besides sweating and exertion, though, including blood pressure medications, kidney disease, diuretics or meds that have excessive urination as a side effect, diarrhea, etc. Elderly people can easily be in one or more of those categories. Add that to the fact that many elderly people don't eat very much, or sometimes have poor diets, and it can definitely add up to low potassium.
Have you asked his doctor?
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