Could it be as simple as not having enough magnesium in your body?

Magnesium is much more than a simple electrolyte

– it is involved in more than 300 biological functions and is essential for heart health.
Any prescribed doses of magnesium are likely to be woefully inadequate because of a fear of possible side effects.

The symptoms of magnesium deficiency include:

Neurological:

Behavioral disturbances
Irritability and anxiety
Lethargy
Impaired memory and cognitive function
Anorexia or loss of appetite
Nausea and vomiting
Seizures

Muscular:

Weakness (SHERMER’S NECK?)
Muscle spasms (tetany)
Tics
Muscle cramps 
Hyperactive reflexes
Impaired muscle coordination (ataxia)
Tremors
Involuntary eye movements and vertigo
Difficulty swallowing

Metabolic:

Increased intracellular calcium
Hyperglycemia
Calcium deficiency
Potassium deficiency

Cardiovascular:

Irregular or rapid heartbeat
Coronary spasms

Among children:

Growth retardation or “failure to thrive”

Note that cramping is associated with magnesium deficiency
but not hypermagnesemia (too much magnesium).

Blood Tests

Only 1% of magnesium in the body is actually found in blood, and only .3% is found in blood serum, so clinical blood serum testing is not useful.

Risk Factors

  • Drinking carbonated beverages on a regular basis
  • Regularly eating pastries, cakes, desserts, candies or other sweet foods
  • Experiencing a lot of stress in your life
  • Major medical procedure such as surgery
  • Drinking coffee, tea, or other caffeinated drinks daily
  • Medications such as a diuretic, heart medication, asthma medication, birth control pills or estrogen replacement therapy
  • Drinking more than seven alcoholic beverages per week
  • Taking calcium supplements without magnesium or calcium supplements with magnesium in less than a 1:1 ratio

Possible neurological signs of magnesium deficiency:

  • Anxiety
  • Times of hyperactivity
  • Difficulty getting to sleep
  • Difficulty staying asleep

See also:

Endurance Athletes and Heart Health

 

References:

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