Heat cramps are a local heat emergency primarily caused by

• A. Electrolyte imbalance and dehydration
• B. Severe impairment of blood pressure
• C. Sudden drop in body temperature
• D. Accumulation of lactic acid only

Answer: (A)

Heat cramps arise from loss of fluids and electrolytes through sweating. When you sweat, you’re not just losing water; you’re also losing important ions like sodium and potassium that help muscles contract and relax normally. Dehydration reduces blood volume and alters electrolyte balance, making muscle cells more excitable and prone to involuntary, painful contractions. That combination—electrolyte depletion plus dehydration—is what produces heat cramps in hot conditions or after heavy sweating.

The other ideas don’t fit as the primary cause: severe blood pressure changes are more typical of heat exhaustion or heat stroke, not cramps; a sudden temperature drop is hypothermia; and lactic acid buildup is a factor in fatigue from intense exercise, not the main driver of heat cramps.