Cramps can occur in the legs, especially calf, when it is very hot.
Heat cramps are mainly manifested in the legs and particularly calves but can also affect upper limbs (like the belly). The practice of sport during hot weather is one of the risk factors.
Definition: What are heat cramps?
Heat cramps are muscle cramps that occur we make a physical effort, like sport, while it is hot. “”They are generally due to dehydration and a lack of minerals. If you do not drink enough water and further eliminate minerals whose sodium (heat and sport involve excessive sweating) then this deficit leads to a reaction to the muscle which manifests itself by a violent contracture whose feelings is crampE “explains Dr. Ariel Toledano, vascular doctor and phlebologist.
What are the causes and risk factors?
A physical effort combined with strong heat causes heat cramp. “The people most at risk of suffering from heat cramps are athletes, manual professions outdoors and those who do physical exercise when the temperature is too high, Develops Dr. Toledano. “”The more physical exercise at high temperature, the more you expose yourself to the risk of heat cramp “. Heat cramp is also linked to dehydration, mineral loss and excessive sweating linked to too high temperature. “”Heat cramp is an alert“Underlines our interlocutor.
What are the symptoms of a heat cramp?
Heat cramp manifests itself in muscle contracture and sudden pain in the calf for example but also sometimes abdominals when we are in full physical effort. “We can observe skin disorders such as white spots which show a loss of water and minerals linked to excessive sweating. These spots occur on The parts exposed to the sun, rather the face but also the arms if they are discovered ” Add the doctor. In general, the heat cramp appears during physical effort, after a few minutes of exercise, or after the sports session.
Can heat cramps occur at night?
“The cramps that occur at night are muscle cramps but are not heat cramps because they are not linked to physical effort“Answers our expert.
What treatments for heat cramps?
Cramp is a muscle contracture, it does not last very long and spontaneously resolves most of the time so does not require a diagnosis. “”If the pain and the contracture are permanent, a doctor must consult“Recommends the phlebologist. “During the occurrence of a heat cramp, it is immediately necessary to stretch the contracted muscle by massaging it in order to appease this muscle contracture, put yourself in the shade and stop physical activity“Recommend Dr. Toledano. “I also recommend giving water enriched with minerals, salt water and/or isotonic solutions to compensate for dehydration“Add the expert. To prevent the risk of heat cramps, you have to drink a lot of water.”I advise my patients to alternate the types of water that are enriched differently in minerals (calcium, magnesium, sodium etc), to eat dairy products rich in calcium, legumes, full starchy foods rich in minerals and trace elements. It is also necessary to avoid physical activities when it is very hot. “
Thank you to Dr. Ariel Toledano, vascular doctor and phlebologist in Paris and author of the book to be published in September “Take care of your legs” at Éditions du Cerf.
