heat cramps
medical disorder
Quick Summary
Heat cramps are a medical condition characterized by sudden, painful muscle contractions. This disorder typically occurs after prolonged physical exertion in high temperatures, especially when accompanied by heavy sweating. The cramps result from the body losing significant amounts of sodium chloride through perspiration. These involuntary muscle spasms can affect extremities or the abdomen.12
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
3 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.