Heat Cramps

What It Takes to Get an Olympic Body Slideshow

• 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.