Rachel Apa during the New York City Marathon (Photo Credit: Steve Apa) A 24-year-old woman collapsed and died two miles from the finish line of the New York City Marathon on Sunday. Rachel Apa had rhabdomyolysis, a rare but life-threatening muscle condition that can be triggered by extreme physical exertion. Her father, Steve Apa, told The New York Times that she had been in pain during the race. At Mile 18, she texted him “Ow.” At Mile 19, she wrote “Ow ow.” She collapsed at Mile 24. According to the Cleveland Clinic, around 26,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis every year. Read More: Hyderabad Techie Dies After 42-Km Run: Can A Marathon Trigger A Sudden Cardiac Event? The first is physical stress on the body. Serious burns, electric shocks and crush injuries can rapidly destroy muscle fibres, and crush injuries are among the most common causes. Intense exercise carries a similar risk when someone pushes hard without building up gradually, leaving muscles little time to repair. Heat and dehydration make it worse, since high temperatures speed up muscle damage and a lack of fluids makes it harder for the kidneys to clear waste from the body. Lying immobile for hours after a fall or after passing out can also bring the condition on. Anyone can get rhabdomyolysis, but some workers are at a higher risk than others. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, workplace risk factors include heat exposure, physical exertion and direct trauma. The second group is medical. Some antipsychotic, antidepressant and antiviral drugs are linked to muscle breakdown, as are statins, particularly in people with diabetes or liver disease. Inherited disorders such as McArdle disease and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, along with certain metabolic and mitochondrial conditions, also raise the risk. The third is substance use. The clinic notes that some non-prescribed substances, including psychoactive drugs, can damage muscle tissue. Namya is a seasoned journalist with nearly two decades of experience. A graduate of Miranda House, Delhi University, and Boston University's College o... View More