Sajila Nudrat | Health Editor
Featured Image: Rhabdomyolysis can be the fatal result of a high-intensity workout session. | Courtesy of Pexels
Only one in three adults receive the recommended amount of physical activity each week. The type of physical activity varies, from cardio, to high intensity training, to weight lifting.
Exercise is vital in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Most people know about the benefits associated with staying physically active, however, not all are aware of the downsides. More specifically, the risks associated with overtraining.
Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome that leads to muscle tissues breaking down, and releasing harmful proteins into the bloodstream. It is defined as: “The breakdown of muscle.” Symptoms include muscle pain in the shoulders, lower back, or thighs, muscle weakness or trouble moving the arms and legs, and dark red or brown urine. The protein that is released is called myoglobin and it can poison the kidneys.
An anonymous, third-year sociology student was asked how often she works out and what she thought about this condition: “I work out three times a week and mainly take part in leg and glute exercises. I like to go at my own pace, and I didn’t know about rhabdomyolysis before this. This does make me want to reevaluate how hard I push myself to get my ‘summer body.’ It’s always good to prioritize health, but not to the extreme, which does more damage than good.”
The condition is caused by trauma to the muscle and can be induced by means of intense workouts. Strenuous exercise has been known to cause the condition and is seen in people who take part in activities such as spinning, weightlifting, and running. One of the more serious risks of the syndrome is kidney failure, which would require dialysis. Kidney failure can also result in an overlord of potassium in the body, which in turn could lead to abnormal heart rhythms and death.
An anonymous, first-year financial studies student discussed his workout regiment. “I work out four to five times a week, with one of the days being just cardiovascular training. I follow a strict regimen workout plan, where it works out my whole body. I do not take part in intense training and I do my best to avoid certain workouts such as deadlifts and other constraining exercises. I try to stick to more compound training workouts. I did not know about rhabdomyolysis and it makes me feel that my workouts are much healthier and safer. Personally, I am going to do more research on rhabdomyolysis, to determine what specific workouts or exercises cause these muscle breakdowns and how it can effect my body in the long run.”
Rhabdomyolysis can occur at any age, and in both men and women. People who workout regularly, and those that don’t, are susceptible to the condition. To avoid these conditions, it’s important to be begin slow and gradual, especially when starting a new exercise.
