Why do I get leg cramps at night and what helps?

Night calf cramps hit a third of adults, more with age, pregnancy, dehydration, hard exercise, standing days, and some medicines, diuretics and statins among them. Most have no sinister cause.

In the moment: stretch the calf hard, toes toward the shin, stand and press the heel down, walk it off; heat relaxes the after-ache. Prevention with the best evidence: daily calf stretches before bed and staying hydrated. Magnesium disappoints in most trials but is harmless to try.

Cramps with calf swelling or one-sided pain that persists, or with muscle weakness, step outside the harmless pattern and deserve review.