The fit guy's guide to rhabdomyolysis: what it is, why it happens, and how to avoid it

Men's Fitness—February 16, 2017

Men's Fitness reports on rhabdomyolysis: what it is, why it occurs and how fit men can avoid it.

Rhabdomyolysis, or 'rhabdo' is a condition when muscle fibers work too hard and ultimately die, releasing their toxic contents into the bloodstream. This can be potentially dangerous as it can affect your kidneys and land you in the hospital. 

Your kidneys are responsible for filtering waste and maintaining your fluid and electrolyte balance, so when they get clogged, you can’t get rid of any of the toxins in your system as you become severely dehydrated, said David A. Wang, MD, primary care sports medicine physician at Hospital for Special Surgery.

In reality, exertional rhabdomyolysis is a relatively uncommon condition, said Dr. Wang. "Rhabdo is also more commonly seen after repetitive eccentric activities, like push-ups, curl-ups, squats, cycling, and hill training", he added.

This article originally appeared at MensFitness.com.