Q:
I have gone swimming a couple of times this past week, and I keep getting very painful cramps, mostly in the arches of my feet and my calves. What might cause this, and what can I do to prevent it?
A:
It is usually caused by electrolyte imbalance, such as a low potassium level or low minerals such as calcium or magnesium.
Make sure your diet is adequate in fruits and vegetables, as well as adequate calcium sources like dairy products. If necessary, you may need to take calcium supplements (like TUMS). If that is not helping, we can do some basic metabolic screening of your blood.
~The Doc
