Get Virtual Care
Heat cramps
Heat cramps are simply muscle cramps that occur in hot and usually humid environments. Seen most commonly in outdoor athletes, the cramps are usually secondary to dehydration and/or heavy losses of electrolytes including sodium, magnesium and potassium during sweating.
Dr. Frank Holmes reviewed this
25 year experience in Sports Medicine
Is a type of:
How long it usually lasts:
How common it is:
Is Symptom of
Related questions
A 32-year old asked:
What causes heat cramps?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 31-year old asked:
What are heat cramps like?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 42-year old asked:
What to do for heat cramps?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 33-year old asked:
If you get heat cramps, how do you feel?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 31-year old asked:
What are heat cramps and can they be mild?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 41-year old asked:
How long does illness after experiencing heat cramps last?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 37-year old asked:
What are heat cramps vs stroke?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 23-year old female asked:
How do I get rid of heat cramps?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 45-year old asked:
What are heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heat stress?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 34-year old female asked:
How long do heat cramps last? having a lot of cramping in my calves and abdomen after a weekend in extreme heat. It is difficult to move around.
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 50-year old asked:
I've heard about a technique of alternating heat and ice to relieve calf cramps, does this work?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 19-year old male asked:
I have calf cramps and I have used icy hot and heat but its still here it has now become an everyday thing. I was wondering what can I do to relive it?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 23-year old female asked:
When I get my periods I need Ice and cold. No one I know is like that. They use heating pads, I scream in pain. Don't cramps contract with heat, why am I different? Is this normal?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 31-year old asked:
For what reason wouldn't the heating pad work for my menstrual cramps?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 43-year old asked:
Other than taking something, heat pad, and dark chocolate, what are some ways to get rid of menstrual cramps?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 27-year old female asked:
I've heard heating pads can give you cancer. Is this true? I like using one to ease my menstrual cramps each month.
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 20-year old female asked:
What are some home remedies for terrible af cramps? Apart from heating pad and hot water bath coz they dont do any good to me. Thanks!
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 18-year old female asked:
After excessive use of a heating pad to treat cramps I have gotten brown spots on my stomach. This was over a year ago and are not gone. What do I do?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 27-year old female asked:
I get lower back pain with my cramps. I don't have a heating pad , but I have icy hot. Will it help?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 22-year old female asked:
I had a pap smear 2 days ago, and I have cramps that keep me up at night, and i need a heating pad to dull it down so I don't cry. Is this Okay?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 17-year old female asked:
What are some positions I can sleep in to ease period cramps? I do not want to sleep with a heating pad and medicine doesn't relieve all the pain.
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 28-year old female asked:
What is a good option for menstrual cramp relief? I have used ibuprofen and heating pads, but neither seems to do much good anymore.
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 28-year old female asked:
I am five weeks pregnant today. Two nights ago, I had some cramps. I put a heating pad on my belly on high for three hours. Should I be worried?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 29-year old female asked:
Is it safe to use electrical heating pad during first weeks of pregnancy? I'm almost 4 weeks pregnant and have been experiencing cramps on left side.
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 27-year old male asked:
27 yr old slim male have sudden pain/cramp from my knee all the way to foot. These episodes happen only at night and only subside with heat. Lost weig?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 26-year old female asked:
My urine smells really bad. It's cloudy and putting off a lot of heat. I also have a cramp in my left side that keeps coming back. What could be wrong?
3 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 36-year old asked:
I feel really ill, stomach cramps, diarrhoea and very dry, could this be heat exhaustion?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 27-year old female asked:
Can heat pads damage eggs & ovaries? Used one for 1.5 hours due to cramps, fell asleep and have a reddened patch of skin. We are TTC.
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 60-year old male asked:
Pain(cramp like) above knee, back medial side upon waking and moving. Vas people say not vascular. Heat seems to relieve. What is it?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 25-year old asked:
Is it better to use an ice pack or a heat pad for muscle soreness and cramps?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Download HealthTap
Video visit and message your doctor
