Emergency Medicine Book

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Heat Cramps

Aka: Heat Cramps
  1. See Also
    1. Heat Illness
    2. Heat Edema
    3. Heat Exhaustion
    4. Heat Stroke
    5. Temperature Regulation
    6. Heat Index
    7. Heat Illness Risk Factors
    8. Medications Predisposing to Heat Illness
    9. Heat Illness Prevention
  2. Epidemiology
    1. Acclimatized athletes and laborers at end of work
  3. Pathophysiology
    1. Hyponatremia and volume depletion from profuse sweating
  4. Symptoms
    1. Painful muscle contractions or cramps
    2. Increased thirst
    3. Sweating
    4. Tachycardia
  5. Signs
    1. Findings of Heat Stroke are absent
      1. Normal mentation and
      2. Core Temperature <104 F
  6. Management
    1. Rest
    2. Oral hydration with electrolyte replacement
    3. Stretching of cramping muscles
  7. Prevention
    1. See Heat Illness Prevention
    2. Prior to work or Exercise:
      1. Adequate Stretching
      2. Adequate water intake
    3. With Exercise (especially longer than 1 hour)
      1. Ingest a drink containing glucose and sodium
  8. References
    1. Czerkawski (1996) Your Patient Fitness 10(4): 13-20
    2. Sandor (1997) Physician SportsMed, 25(6):35-40
    3. Barrow (1998) Am Fam Physician 58(3):749-56
    4. Hett (1998) Postgrad Med 103(6):107-20
    5. Wexler (2002) Am Fam Physician 65(11):2307-20

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