Too Much of a

Good Thing

Intense, repetitive, motion exercise can cause rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition from muscle injury and the subsequent death of muscle fibers and release of their contents into the bloodstream. This can lead to serious complications such as renal (kidney) failure. And in rare cases it can kill.

Over-exercising triggers the problem. This can occur when you push yourself too far in cycling, running, or lifting weights.  Possible symptoms of rhabdomyolysis are nausea, vomiting, fever, intense shivering, confusion and fainting. And urine can be scant and dark.

So what’s the message? Like many medical problems, prevention is better than cure, particularly when there’s a small chance of dying. Cycling seems to be one of the major hazards. Would-be fitness enthusiasts are at big risk as they are often not conditioned and using untested muscles at an intense rate. But if you’re a runner and decide it’s time to switch to cycling, remember, you will be using a different set of muscles for the first time, which could result in rhabdomyolysis unless you gradually increase the intensity overtime.  Insufficient physical training, along with severe dehydration and/or extreme body temperatures, also increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis regardless of the type of exercise.

Of course, it’s not the intention to worry people about exercising, have them become couch potatoes, nor to make time for illness. Rather, the best advice is to keep moving, but stress that moderation in most aspects of life usually wins the day. Always start slow. Take frequent breaks, keep well hydrated, and listen hard to what your body is telling you.