Health Tip: When Muscle Cramps Become Worrisome

(HealthDay News) -- While a muscle in spasm can be extremely painful, it usually doesn't indicate a serious condition.

But that's not always the case. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons says these warning signs should prompt a call to your doctor's office:

• If the cramps become severe.
• If the cramps occur frequently.
• If the cramps don't respond to treatment.
• If the cramps don't seem related to an obvious cause, such as exercise.