Tamil Nadu: Doctors have warned that prolonged work in direct sunlight can lead to a muscle-destroying condition called rhabdomyolysis.
Regarding this, Public Health Officer Dr. Farooq Abdullah said: Continuous strenuous work in extreme heat causes muscles to work without rest, losing some of their endurance and causing them to deteriorate.
Then, potassium, phosphate, creatine kinase, myoglobin, and uric acid in the body will be released into the bloodstream in higher levels than normal. Our kidneys should be responsible for removing these toxins. However, due to dehydration caused by working in direct sunlight, the kidneys will perform this function more slowly. When the kidneys are pressured to clean too much blood at once, they will become stressed and temporarily stop working.
This can lead to a condition called rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle breakdown. Its symptoms include severe muscle pain, muscle swelling, muscle weakness, and dark, red urine. If you experience these conditions, you should see a doctor immediately. To confirm whether you have rhabdomyolysis, your creatinine level should be checked.
In such cases, intravenous fluids and mineral salts are necessary. If kidney function continues to decline, temporary dialysis may be required. Rhabdomyolysis can be caused not only by sun exposure, but also by accidents, burns, excessive exercise, excessive running, and snake bites. Alcohol and drug use are also major causes. Therefore, it is important to be aware of it.
He said that avoiding working in direct sunlight during the summer and maintaining proper hydration and mineral salt levels will help prevent this damage.
