Rhabdo warning goes viral

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services said in March it had seen about 20 exercise-related rhabdomyolysis cases in six months in its Eastern-Urban Zone. (nlhealthservices.ca) Rhabdomyolysis happens when muscle tissue breaks down so severely that proteins and electrolytes spill into the blood and can injure the kidneys. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it can follow physical exertion, heat, trauma or other muscle damage. (cdc.gov) The main warning signs are severe muscle pain, dark urine and unusual weakness or fatigue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says symptoms can start hours or even days after the workout that triggered them. (cdc.gov) Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services said the recent cluster was tied to intense exercise, and Dr. Richard Barter said doctors would normally expect only a few cases a year. Most of the recent patients were women between 19 and 30, according to Barter. (nlhealthservices.ca) (cbc.ca) Barter told Canadian Press and other outlets that social-media pressure around “extreme activities” may be part of the pattern. Global News reported Halifax sports-medicine physician Ryan Henneberry also pointed to high-intensity interval training and indoor cycling as common setups for exertional cases. (cbc.ca) (globalnews.ca) One case described by CBC involved Kyra Fancey of St. John’s, who said she developed excruciating leg pain and dark brown urine after her first spin class in December 2023. She said she spent about six days in hospital. (cbc.ca) Doctors say the condition is not limited to beginners. Ohio State sports-medicine physician Bryant Walrod wrote in 2024 that he sees exertional rhabdomyolysis in endurance athletes, CrossFit athletes and team-sport training blocks when people take on work their muscles are not prepared for. (osu.edu) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says symptoms alone cannot confirm rhabdomyolysis, because dehydration and heat cramps can look similar. The agency says the only accurate diagnosis is a blood test that checks creatine kinase, or CK, and repeated tests to see whether levels are rising or falling. (cdc.gov) Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services told people to increase exercise gradually, allow recovery time, add rest days and avoid overworking one muscle group. The agency said harder sessions may require 48 to 72 hours of recovery. (nlhealthservices.ca) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says anyone with severe muscle pain, dark urine or unusual weakness after exertion should stop activity and seek medical care right away. That is the warning now circulating far beyond one province. (cdc.gov)