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Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

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.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

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.

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In this Article

• Heat cramps facts
• What are heat cramps?
• Who is at risk for heat cramps?
• What causes heat cramps?
• What are the signs and symptoms of heat cramps?
• When should an individual seek medical care for heat cramps?
• How are heat cramps diagnosed?
• What first aid treatments can help heat cramps?
• What are the complications of heat cramps?
• How can heat cramps be prevented
• What is the prognosis for heat cramps?
• Find a local Doctor in your town
• Heat Cramps Index

The diagnosis of heat cramps is usually made after taking the patient's history. It is important to know about the environment where the person affected by heat cramps.

• How hot was it?
• How humid was it?
• Was there adequate air circulation?
• What activity was being performed and for how long?
• When did the cramps start? What muscles were involved?
• Was there associated sweating?
• Had the affected individual been acclimated to the hot environment?
• Was the person drinking enough water? One sign of heat cramps or a heat-related illness may be the color of urine. When the body becomes dehydrated, the kidneys conserve water and the result is concentrated, strong smelling, darker, yellow urine. If there is adequate water in the body the urine tends to be clear.

Often the physical examination will be relatively normal. The cramped muscles may be sore to touch and if there hasn't been adequate fluid replacement, the muscle may cramp again when taken through its normal range of motion. The physical exam may find signs of dehydration such as a dry mouth and tongue, lack of sweat in the armpits and groin, and decreased urine output. The vital signs can be a clue (for example, low blood pressure) and rapid heart rate (tachycardia). The affected person's blood pressure may be much lower upon standing compared to lying down (orthostatic hypotension).

Most first aid treatment for heat cramps can occur before seeking medical care:

• stop the activity being performed,
• get to a cooler place,
• drink plenty of fluids, and
• gently stretch the muscles that are cramping.

At the health care professional's office or a hospital, medical care focuses on symptom relief.

It makes it difficult to replace body fluids if the patient has nausea or vomiting, so intravenous fluids may be administered. Anti-nausea medications like promethazine (Phenergan), droperidol (Inapsine), or ondansetron (Zofran) may be used to control those symptoms.

Painful muscles may be treated with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen or naproxen. Though it is a non-prescription medication, it is important to remember that there may side effects or interactions with prescription medications. When you are not certain which medication to consider, consult your health care professional as a helpful information resource.