Women don’t have to be highly skilled athletes to develop muscle problems. In fact, they can develop said problems while carrying out their daily activities.
Be it old, young, active or inactive women, they are all susceptible to muscle problems, which can creep in when least expected. But this is more prominent in women that work day in and day out. While they should be commended for pulling through, they still need to take the precautionary measures to ensure things do not go out of hand. But before you get treatment, it is best to understand the reasons behind muscle problems, so that you can avoid making the same mistakes again, which are as follows:
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Dehydration
When it comes to your muscles, it involves a balance of ions and electric signals. But when you are dehydrated, it causes a disruption in this delicate balance of ions and electric signals.
Basically, what happens is your body is unsure whether the imbalance is caused by a signal from the brain or instability around a cell. Due to this confusion, your muscles will be unable to process accurate signals, thus resulting in pain because of overactivity.
Even mild dehydration can have a major effect on the mood. Luckily, you can solve this problem for good, even when you are on the job by keeping yourself as hydrated as you possibly can.
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Nerve Compression
The phenomenon is also popularly referred to as ‘pinched nerve’, and should not be taken lightly.
You need to understand that a series of nerves makes its way down to your spinal cord from your brain, and if you are not careful, anything can cause a pinched nerve. The causes can stem from arthritis to a herniated disk, or even something as simple as holding a weird position. This also includes partaking in yoga. So when your body says no, just don’t push yourself more than you already have.
The good news is your body will heal itself, in case you have a pinched nerve. But if it does not, you can take anti-inflammatories to ease the pain. However, if that too does not work, then it is a cause for concern. You will have to visit your doctor.
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Insufficient Blood Supply
One of the most popular reasons any women would have muscle problems is due to the insufficient blood supply. Simply put, it could be because you are not getting enough blood around your body. The drop in blood supply is mostly because of excessive cholesterol, but there could be other reasons like a tumor, ovarian mass or a pinched artery.
Muscle problems caused by insufficient blood supply are more noticeable due to excessive cramping, so check to see if you have high cholesterol. As for those ladies that run on the track, if you notice that you get muscle cramps at the same mile marker while training, then you could most probably be suffering from compartment syndrome, which hinders blood flow. If this is the case, contact your doctor right away.
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Holding a Position for Longer than Necessary
A lot of women hold a position for longer than necessary during exercise, so it should not come as a surprise that they suffer from muscle cramps and whatnot. By doing something your body is not designed for, you cause your muscle breaks down little by little, since it is constantly activated after all. But the damage does not stop there, as the breakdown results in the buildup of lactic acid, which in turn causes your muscles to go haywire. Fortunately, this does not stay for long and does go away, but if the problem persists, you should consult a doctor immediately.
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Pregnancy
It goes without saying a pregnancy can cause a myriad of changes in your body, with hormonal shifts being the primary cause of muscle cramps. But in the case of a pregnancy, muscle cramps are prominent in the foot or calf, which can intensify during the second and third trimester, more specifically during night time. Even though it is not always evident as to why this happens, but you can try to overcome the pain by drinking plenty of water. Additionally, you should exercise and take magnesium supplements, but only if your doctor recommends it in the first place.
Precautionary Measures to consider
- Don’t stay in one position for longer, especially if you have a desk job. In this case, take short breaks and move around.
- Pregnant women should avoid stressing themselves out, but that does not mean they should remain inactive, as many people wrongfully suggest. Various telehealth software systems allow you to contact your healthcare provider without having to step out of your home.
- If you are forgetful about keeping yourself hydrated, keep a water bottle handy. Place it somewhere visible to you, which will automatically remind you to drink water.
- In case you are not as active as you should be, take out time to exercise when at home. Either run before you head out to work, or indulge in different exercises when you are done with your work for the day. No matter the exercise, be consistent to stay fit and healthy.
Now that you know of the different causes of muscle problems, you ought to be more careful no matter the work at hand. Take every opportunity you get to be active, and stretch a bit now and then to keep those juices flowing, and you will be good to go!
