MexicoAriatna Lizeth Mata Esparza, 22, died at a gym after squatting with too much weight.
According to investigators, Esparza, from the city of Torreón in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila, suddenly collapsed to the floor while doing squats on August 16. This is a standing and sitting movement that focuses on the hip muscles, with the participation of the knees and ankles. Medical staff quickly arrived at the scene to take her to the emergency room, but it was too late. The woman was declared dead at the scene.
An autopsy found that Esparza suffered from hypoxemia, a condition in which there is too little oxygen in the blood due to overexertion, according to a spokesman for the local Attorney General’s Office.
Medical experts also said she had a stroke caused by a blood clot. They did not know how much weight Esparza had lifted, but research shows that the average woman can squat 70 kg in one set. Investigators also did not know if Esparza had any underlying health conditions. Local reports said she had no heart problems.
According to doctors, hypoxia during exercise is not uncommon, especially in high altitude areas. The city of Torreon, where Esparza lives, is 1,097 meters above sea level. For comparison, New York City is only 10 meters high, and Los Angeles is 92 meters high.
Ariatna Lizeth Mata Esparza, 22, died while doing squats at the gym. Photo: Jam Press
Experts say that when exercising at this altitude, the amount of oxygen consumed is greater than the amount of oxygen absorbed, causing the oxygen concentration in the body to decrease and cells to die. This causes blood pressure to increase, causing blood vessels to rupture, leading to cerebral hemorrhage.
Lack of oxygen in the blood causes symptoms such as difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, pale skin, and increased heart rate. In severe cases, if the patient suffers brain damage or organ failure, they may die.
If hypoxia becomes chronic, the patient may experience weakened blood vessels, increased risk of brain hemorrhage, and blood clot formation due to increased levels of inflammatory molecules in the blood.
Deaths while exercising are not uncommon. In May, a Chinese man died while doing an exercise called hanging with his head high, legs dangling, and body swinging to relieve neck and spinal pain. Police confirmed that the death was due to hanging. Witnesses said the man exerted too much force in his lower body, causing the rope to tighten around his neck and stop him from breathing.
In June, a female runner in Pontianak City, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, had an accident while running on a treadmill, causing her to fall from a third-floor gym window to the ground and die.