How To Avoid Muscle Cramps During Scuba Diving
Scuba diving is an awe-inspiring and breathtaking activity. It allows you to see the beauty of the underwater world. But along with all the marvelous experience you will get as you dive in the water is the fear of having muscle cramps underwater. With all the beauty of the underwater world, you can only imagine life at its beauty.
Despite the wonder that scuba diving can bring, dangers are also at risk when you are underwater. Muscle cramp is every scuba diver’s enemy. This involuntary contraction of your muscles is a result from overexertion or poor physical condition. Cramps lasts for a few seconds to minutes distracting every divers close encounter to the oceanic world. Aside from distraction they can also lead to further underwater anxiety and even drowning.
So, therefore, necessary precautions must be taken by each scuba diver out there in order to prevent the occurrence of muscle cramps in the water.
Remember to do some simple muscle stretching just before any scuba activity- Stretching looses muscle tension in your body to avoid muscle cramps. You have to prepare your muscles before you take a dive. Remember that underwater temperature is extremely low which attracts muscle contraction. So you need to warm up your muscles before you take a dive.
Drinking alcohol is always a big NO for divers- Alcohol utilizes anaerobic metabolism. In anaerobic metabolism is a type of cell metabolism in which our body uses carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen, lactic acid is the end product of anaerobic metabolism. And lactic acid promotes muscle spasms in our body. So if you are planning to take a diving, make sure you have been alcohol free for the past 12 hours if you don’t want to experience muscle cramps underwater.
Increase oral fluid intake, drink at least 3 liters of water daily- Studies have shown that dehydration is also one of the greatest causes of cramps.
Increase potassium in the diet- Bananas are the richest known source of potassium. Potassium is known to inhibit muscle contraction and spasms.
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