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Heat Cramps

Epidemiology
1. Acclimatized athletes and laborers at end of work
Pathophysiology
1. Hyponatremia and volume depletion from profuse sweating
Symptoms
1. Painful muscle contractions or cramps
2. Increased thirst
3. Sweating
4. Tachycardia
Management
1. Rest
2. Oral hydration with electrolyte replacement
3. Stretching of cramping muscles
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
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
4. Hett (1998) Postgrad Med 103(6):107
5. Wexler (2002) Am Fam Physician 65(11):2307

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 6/1/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.