A muscle cramp is an unexpected tightening or contraction of one or more muscles in the body. These involuntary episodes can be quite painful as the muscle contracts and is unable to relax. They may last for a few seconds to a few minutes or even longer.
While doctors don’t know exactly what causes muscle cramps, there are some possible causes and preventive measures to be considered by those who suffer from muscle cramps. Muscle cramps can occur anywhere in the body, but are most common in the legs and feet. While muscle cramps are typically more of a nuisance than an indication of a serious health problem, they can interfere with sleep and other daily activities.
Summer weather may be a potential trigger for heat cramps, a painful type of muscle cramp. Excess sweating, dehydration, an imbalance in electrolytes in the body — especially when performing physical activity in the hot weather — can lead to muscle cramps during or soon after physical activity. Other risk factors for muscle cramps include older age, deconditioning of the muscles, pregnancy and certain medical problems like diabetes.
While muscle cramps are not harmful, other additional severe symptoms of heat illness such as fatigue, vomiting, dizziness, headache, high fever and shortness of breath are signs of heat exhaustion that require immediate medical attention. Babies and young children as well as adults who are over 65 years old, have high blood pressure or heart concerns or take certain medications a.
