What should you do in the event of intense cramps and is there a way to prevent them?

"Pulikat" or muscle spasms, is a condition very much common among athletes. With the rise of cycling in the Philippines, many are now experiencing intense muscle cramps due to muscle overuse.

In an episode of Pinoy MD aired on Saturday, cyclist Abimelech Baldomero shared an incident where he encountered a fellow cyclist suffering through cramps right in the middle of the street.

According to Abimelech, the cyclist asked for help because the cramps were going up from his legs to his thighs.

Later, they discovered that the patient lacked sleep but still pushed through with his usual bike ride. This is an unsafe practice, said internist Dr. Kevin Ang.

Muscle spasms or cramps is the sudden stiffness of muscles. It's usually uncontrollable and the pain, often intolerable.

It's usually caused by muscle overuse. But other causes like electrolyte imbalances, lack of sleep, and insufficient nutrition and water intake could very well lead up to this injury as well.

"'Pag may electrolyte imbalance, kulang yung kinain mong pagkain, 'di sapat yung nutrition na nakukuha mo, mas prone tayo sa cramps," said Dr. Ang.

The internist said drinking plenty of water would help prevent muscle cramps due to better bodily fluid circulation.

"At the same time, mas less prone din tayo sa musculoskeletal injuries katulad ng pulikat," he added.

To avoid muscle spasms, experts advise eating bananas and apples, staying hydrated, and giving the body enough rest before strenuous activities like biking.

For other medical-related information, you may watch ‘Pinoy MD’ every Saturday at 6 a.m. on GMA Network. — LA, GMA News