Pregnant woman collapsed while lifting a barbell at her local gym and was pronounced dead from what paramedics called a lack of oxygen.
Ariatna Lizeth Mata Esparza was working out in her local gym in Torreón, Mexico, when she suddenly collapsed while doing barbell squats, the Daily Mail reports.
Paramedics were unable to revive Esparza, who was pronounced dead at the scene, the outlet reports, with the cause of death being anoxemia — possibly due to overexertion.
“Anoxemia refers to reduced oxygen availability,” the Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology explains. “The brain is more oxygen dependent than other body organs and medial temporal lobe and limbic structures are particularly vulnerable to brain damage.”
Esparza also suffered from a stroke and had blood clots, the Daily Mail reports.
Tribute to Ariatna Lizeth Mata Esparza – Woman, 22, drops dead in gym while performing barbell squats
Ariatna Lizeth Mata Esparza, who died while working out at her local gym. Jam Press
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Passing out or feeling “lightheaded” during working out can be a commonplace occurrence, according to an article from Mass General Brigham.
“When we’re exercising and we’re short of breath, which is normal, and we’re also very engaged in what we’re doing, we can sometimes neglect to really take good, deep breaths,” Caroline Schepker, DO, a sports medicine physiatrist who treats patients at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital said to Mass General Brigham.
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“A lot of us tend to use the wrong muscles to take deep breaths. Or we may hold our breath during periods of intense exertion.”
However, there are underlying issues that can cause lightheadedness, Schepker said.
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These include cardiovascular issues, low blood sugar, neurological conditions, working out in a hot environment, neurological conditions, or other underlying — and perhaps, undiagnosed — infections.
If you have an episode of lightheadedness during a workout, Schepker said it’s important to speak to your primary care physician.
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