| Thread Closed |
Quick question about cramp/heart |
Share Thread | Thread Tools |
| Feb20-10, 03:13 PM | #1 |
|
|
Quick question about cramp/heart
Is it possible to have a cramp in the heart? It would differ from heart attacks I think, but would also being able to kill. So a simply low level of sodium/potassium/calcium in blood could cause us a cramp in the heart and maybe kill us. I just wonder if it's possible. If not, why?
|
| Feb21-10, 10:12 AM | #2 |
|
Admin
|
The heart is an involuntary muscle, whereas the skeletal muscles are voluntary. That's an important distinction. Muscle cramps http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/003193.htm Leg pain http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/003182.htm http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/002066.htm |
| Feb21-10, 03:34 PM | #3 |
|
|
Thanks very much for the reply. So the heart would be a different muscle because it works involuntarily and continuously. Just as some muscles involved for respiration and digestion I'd say.
About the quote If the heart and other muscles are completely discarded as being affected by cramps, is there an illness or way for these muscles to be affected by cramps? |
| Feb21-10, 08:37 PM | #4 |
|
|
Quick question about cramp/heart
I am not sure that there is truly a concrete answer for this question but it probably lies in the differing mechanisms of depolarization of skeletal and cardiac muscle. The latter of which has a characteristic "automaticity" to the depolarization. If you google cardiac muscle depolarization you will undoubtedly find more than enough information to make your head spin.
For what its worth, cardiac muscle does have something akin to cramps/spasms/twitches, except they are called arrhythmias and many of them will lead to death instead of a bit of pain. |
| Thread Closed |
| Thread Tools | |
Similar Threads for: Quick question about cramp/heart
|
||||
| Thread | Forum | Replies | ||
| brain cramp and need equation | Introductory Physics Homework | 2 | ||
| brain cramp on this averaging | General Math | 8 | ||
| stupid brain cramp... | Precalculus Mathematics Homework | 1 | ||
| Brain cramp on 2nd elevator problem | Introductory Physics Homework | 4 | ||
| Help!! Painful cramp. | General Discussion | 14 | ||