Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Heat cramps are intermittent, involuntary
muscle spasms that occur in an
individual who is physically active in hot weather.
Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and
heat stroke are collectively known as
heat-related illness. Heat cramps are the least serious of the three, but still
can be very painful and alarming.
Heat cramps usually affect the major muscles that are being stressed in
a
hot environment.
Individuals at risk for heat cramps include those who work or are active in
a hot environment.
Individuals with impaired temperature control mechanisms, such as infants,
young children, and the elderly, are also at a greater risk of heat cramps.
Heat cramps are the earliest symptoms of a heat-related illness.
Symptoms of heat cramps include profuse sweating with involuntary spasms of
the large muscles in the body.
Heat cramps also may be a symptom of heat exhaustion.
The diagnosis of heat cramps is usually made by reviewing the patient
history and identifying the muscle groups that are involuntarily spasming.
Treatment of heat cramps include resting, cooling the body, hydration, and
stretching the muscles that are cramping.
Heat cramps can be prevented by avoiding exercise or work during the
heat of the day, drinking plenty of fluids, and resting in cool or shaded areas when
possible.
What are heat cramps?
Heat cramps are the intermittent, involuntary spasm of muscles that occur in
an individual who is physically active (for example, working or exercising) in
hot or humid weather. They are often associated with dehydration. Heat cramps
usually affect the major muscles that are being stressed in the hot environment.
Most often these are the thigh and leg (quadriceps, hamstrings, gastrocnemius),
the core muscles (abdominal wall and back) and the arm muscles (biceps,
triceps).
Heat cramps can also occur after the activity has been completed. For
example, construction workers or roofers can develop cramps a few hours after
their work shift is over.
Who is at risk for heat cramps?
While heat cramps tend affect those who are active in a hot environment, it
should be noted that heat cramps are one of the symptoms associated with heat
exhaustion as part of the spectrum of heat-related illness. Those individuals
who have impaired temperature control mechanisms are at higher risk for
developing heat-related illness. The body's most effective way of cooling itself
is through sweat, and then the sweat evaporates into the environment. Those at
most risk for heat cramps include:
Infants and young children because they depend upon others
to avoid the heat, dress them appropriately (avoid swaddling an infant since it
prevents air movement over the skin to promote sweat evaporation) and
provide enough fluid to drink
The elderly because they may have underlying medical conditions,
including heart and lung disease, and they can easily become dehydrated
People who live by themselves or who cannot afford air conditioning are
at higher risk for heat related illness
A variety of medications can impair the body's sweat and heat regulation.
Examples of drugs include medication prescribed for psychiatric conditions, including antipsychotic medications
and tranquilizers. Over-the-counter cold medications and antihistamines also
impair the body's temperature control mechanism.
Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. There are a number of causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise, and some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The best way to treat dehydration is to prevent it from occurring.
Dizziness is a symptom that is often applies to a variety of sensations including lightheadedness and vertigo. Causes of dizziness include low blood pressure, heart problems, anemia, dehydration, and more. Treatment of dizziness depends on the cause.
Muscle spasms are involuntary muscle contractions that come on suddenly and are usually quite painful. Dehydration, doing strenuous exercise in a hot environment, prolonged muscle use, and certain diseases of the nervous system may cause muscle spasms. Symptoms and signs of a muscle spasm include an acute onset of pain and a possible bulge seen or felt beneath the skin where the muscle is located. Gently stretching the muscle usually resolves a muscle spasm.
Heat rash is a skin irritation caused by excessive sweating. It can occur at any age and it appears as a rash that itches or feels prickly, and looks like a red cluster of pimples or small blisters. Pictures of heat rash are included.
Heat stroke (heatstroke or sun stroke) is a form of hyperthermia. Heat stroke is a true medical emergency that can be fatal if not promptly and properly treated. Symptoms of heat stroke include: high body temperature, absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, strange behavior, hallucinations, confusion, agitation, disorientation, seizure, and coma. A victim of heat stroke must receive immediate treatment to avoid permanent organ damage.
Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement fluids. Warning signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea or vomiting, and fainting.
Orthostatic hypotension symptoms include lightheadedness, weakness, blurred vision, and syncope or passing out. Causes of orthostatic hypotension include dehydration, anemia, medication, blood loss, low blood pressure, heat related illnesses and more. Treatment of orthostatic hypotension depends on the underlying cause.
Sun sensitivity (photosensitivity) is an inflammation of the skin induced by the combination of medications or substances and sunlight. The affect on the skin is redness, which looks similar to a sunburn. Generally, these reactions are either phototoxic or photoallergic. Phototoxic drugs are more common than photoallergic drugs. Symptoms of phototoxic reactions are a burning and stinging sensation and then redness. Symptoms of photoallergic reactions are itching, redness, swelling, blisters of the affected area. Treatment generally is discontinuation of the medication and topical application of creams.
Sunburn is caused by overexposure to UV radiation from the sun. UV rays can also damage the eyes. Repeated overexposure to UV rays also increases the risk for scarring, freckles, wrinkles, and dry skin. Symptoms of sunburn include painful, red, tender, and hot skin. The skin may blister, swell, and peel. Sun poisoning (severe sunburn) include nausea, fever, chills, rapid pulse, dizziness and more. Treatment for sunburn depends upon the severity. Sun protection and sunscreen for an individual's skin type is recommended to decrease the chance of sunburn.
Hyperthermia is the overheating of the body. Heat-related illnesses like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat rash, and sunburn are all hyperthermia conditions. Treatment of these conditions depends upon the condition, environment, and circumstances. Heat stroke is a medical emergency, and may result in death if not treated promptly. Heat exhaustion may lead to heat stroke if not treated properly.
First aid is a complicated subject and it is situation-specific. First aid is the help and medical assistance that someone gives, not only to an injured person, but to a person who is sick. Preparedness is a key element of first aid, like having basic medical emergency kits in your home, car, boat, or RV. Cuts, puncture wounds, sprains, strains, nosebleeds are one type of injury that may require first aid; heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and heat stroke are examples of more critical first aid emergencies.
Natural diasters such as a hurricane can take a toll on family, friends, and neighbors. Both physiological and psychological stresses can be devastating. Learn how to prepare for a hurricane like food storage, safe water, first aid measures, cleaning mold, wearing protective gear, preparing for electrical hazards, avoiding carbon monoxide, avoiding physical injuries and hazardous materials, preventing drowning, reducing the risk of thermal stress, and preventing fatigue related injuries.
When a person stands up from sitting or lying down, the
body must work to adjust to that change in position. It is especially important
for the body to push blood upward and supply the brain with oxygen. If the body fails to do this
adequately, blood pressure falls, and a person may feel lightheaded or even pass
out. Orthostatic hypotension is the term used to describe the fall in blood
pressure when a person stands (orthostatic= upright posture of the body; hypo= less + tension=pressure).
Adequate blood supply to the body's organs depends upon
three factors:
a heart strong enough to pump,
arteries and veins that are able
to constrict or squeeze, and
enough blood and fluid within the vessels.
When the
body changes position, a variety of actions occur involving all parts of the
cardiovascular
system as well as the autonomic nervous system that helps regulat...
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