Painful foot cramps can occur if your body is low in potassium, a mineral that helps the cells in your muscles and nerves function normally. Athletes may be especially likely to develop muscle cramps when potassium is lost through sweating. Replacing lost minerals and fluids and eating foods high in potassium can help you avoid foot cramps.
Identification
Potassium helps your skeletal muscles contract and relax when they receive the signal from your brain to spring into action. When your potassium level is too low, the signaling process doesn't work as efficiently, causing your muscles to contract involuntarily. When muscles contract briefly, a spasm occurs. If the spasm continues and the muscle becomes hard and rigid, a cramp occurs. Other symptoms of a potassium deficiency include feeling tired or weak, constipation or arrhythmias. Arrhythmias occur when your heart beats too slow, too fast or doesn't maintain a regular rhythm.
Causes
Failing to replace minerals lost when you sweat during exercise may increase your chances of developing a cramp in your foot or in other muscles. In addition to loss of potassium, sweating depletes the body of calcium and magnesium, two minerals that also play an important role in muscle function. The most common cause of low potassium is excessive potassium loss in urine or from the digestive tract. This can occur due to diarrhea, vomiting, malnutrition, eating disorders, alcoholism, inflammatory bowel disorder, kidney failure, adrenal gland disorders or use of such medications as diuretics, laxatives, corticosteroids or some asthma medications.
Treatment
Eating foods high in potassium may increase your potassium level and stop foot cramps. Foods high in potassium include bananas, cantaloupes, raisins, chicken, turkey, salmon, cod, carrots, tomatoes and potatoes. If your potassium level is low due to an underlying medical condition or disease, treating the condition or disease may improve your potassium level. In some cases, your doctor may suggest that you take potassium supplements to increase your potassium level. Drinking sports drinks that contain potassium and other minerals while you exercise can help prevent foot cramps due to excessive sweating.
Warning
While it may be tempting to take potassium supplements if you experience foot cramps, taking them without your doctor's approval may be a bad idea. Potassium supplements may cause side effects or interact with medications, such as ACE inhibitors and certain antibiotics and diuretics. Possible side effects of potassium supplements may include nausea, diarrhea, stomach problems, heart rate or rhythm problems, weakness or chest pain. Stop taking the supplements and contact your doctor if you develop these symptoms.
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