Heat Cramps
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- Heat Cramps Overview
- Heat Cramps Causes
- Heat Cramps Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Heat Cramps Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Next Steps
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Authors and Editors
Heat Cramps Overview
Heat cramps are painful, brief muscle cramps that occur during exercise or work in a hot environment. Muscles may spasm or jerk involuntarily. Cramping may also be delayed and occur a few hours later.
Heat cramps usually involve the muscles fatigued by heavy work such as calves, thighs, abdomen, and shoulders.
- You most at risk doing work or activities in a hot environment-usually during the first few days of an activity you're not used to.
- You are also at risk if you sweat a great deal during exercise and don't drink enough or drink large amounts of fluids that lack salt.
Next: Heat Cramps Causes »
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Heat Cramps
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke »
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Overview
Heat exhaustion: This condition often occurs when people exercise (work or play) in a hot, humid place and body fluids are lost through sweating, causing the body to overheat. The person's temperature may be elevated, but not above 104°F.
Heat stroke: This medical condition is life-threatening. The person's cooling system, which is controlled by the brain, stops working and the internal body temperature rises to the point where brain damage or damage to other internal organs may result (temperature may reach 105+°F).
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke Causes
Heat exhaustion is typically caused when people who are not well adjusted to heat exercise in a hot, humid environment.
- At high temperatures, the body cools itself largely through evaporation of sweat.
- When it is very humid, this mechanism does not work ...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Heatstroke »
Heat illness may be viewed as a continuum of illnesses relating to the body's inability to cope with heat.
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