Lack of Sleep and Fasting Before Heavy Squats... Stroke Yoga Instructor's Regret

"I felt pain but dismissed it as muscle soreness"
"My perspective on high-intensity exercise has changed... Never overdo it"

A woman in her 30s shared her experience of being diagnosed with a stroke after attempting to squat while fasting, lifting a weight of 70 kg, highlighting the dangers of excessive fasting exercise.

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Recently, the British media outlet The Sun covered the story of Bridget Salatin (33), a yoga instructor active in Ohio, USA. In April 2023, she attempted to squat alone at home with a 70 kg barbell resting near her neck and shoulders, when she felt an intense headache. She recalled, "I felt a sharp pain shooting from my shoulder to my right temple and soon collapsed to the floor." She added, "I had no sensation in my right arm and leg, but I thought it was just muscle pain, so I got up by myself and did not go to the hospital." However, a week later, she experienced severe headaches and became unable to stand or even walk.

Salatin recalled that she had not slept enough at the time of the incident and had pushed herself to exercise while fasting. "The barbell was so heavy that it was hard to breathe, but I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it," she said.

Only after experiencing extreme pain and suffering did she visit the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a stroke caused by vertebral artery dissection. The vertebral artery is a major blood vessel that runs along the cervical vertebrae toward the back of the brain. The artery wall was torn, causing a blood clot that blocked blood flow to the brain, resulting in a stroke. Vertebral artery dissection is a rare cause of stroke but accounts for 10-20% of cases in people under 45 years old. It usually occurs spontaneously but is often related to excessive neck movement. It can even be triggered by severe sneezing or forceful nose blowing.

Although the stroke was fully cured in August 2024, Salatin experienced frequent headaches and was diagnosed with 'occipital neuralgia,' a rare nerve disorder that causes severe pain in the upper head and back of the neck. She also reported suffering from aftereffects such as short-term memory loss.

She expressed regret, saying, "I never expected something like this to happen. I think, 'I ruined myself.'" Currently, she lives as a yoga instructor, starting exercises she can manage. "I recommend safe exercise to people," she advised. "Doing multiple repetitions with light weights is also fine. It helps build muscular endurance and improves breathing." She emphasized, "This experience changed my perspective on high-intensity exercise. The important thing is to take care of yourself, check if you are okay, and not overdo it."