What are muscle spasms caused by the loss of large amounts of salt and water through exercise called?

Muscle spasms resulting from significant losses of salt and water during exercise are referred to as heat cramps. These cramps occur often in conditions where individuals exercise vigorously, leading to excessive sweating and subsequent depletion of electrolytes, particularly sodium. When sodium levels drop, the body can struggle to function properly, resulting in painful muscle contractions, commonly affecting the legs and abdomen.

Heat cramps are a direct manifestation of imbalances that arise during intense physical activity. While dehydration is a broader term that includes losing fluids without specifying the role of electrolytes, heat cramps specifically emphasize the muscle spasms that arise from the loss of both salt and hydration.

Heat stroke and heat exhaustion, on the other hand, involve more severe bodily responses to heat and dehydration, including symptoms like confusion, weakness, nausea, and in the case of heat stroke, high body temperature and potential unconsciousness. Heat cramps are a preliminary sign of heat-related illness and indicate that the body is struggling to maintain electrolyte balance during exertion.