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kaorder1999
06-09-2007, 02:41 PM
This might have already been posted...if so...sorry and disregard!!!

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Teen's death blamed on sports cream

01:23 PM CDT on Saturday, June 9, 2007

Associated Press

NEW YORK - A medical examiner blamed a 17-year-old track star's death on the use of too much muscle cream, the kind used to soothe aching legs after exercise.

Arielle Newman, a cross-country runner at Notre Dame Academy on Staten Island, died after her body absorbed high levels of methyl salicylate, an anti-inflammatory found in sports creams such as Bengay and Icy Hot, the New York City medical examiner said Friday.

The medical examiner's spokeswoman, Ellen Borakove, said the teen used "topical medication to excess." She said it was the first time that her office had reported a death from using a sports cream.

Newman, who garnered numerous track awards, died April 13. She had gone to a party the night before, then returned home and spent hours talking with her mother.

Methyl salicylate poisoning is unusual, and deaths from high levels of the chemical are rare.

"Chronic use is more dangerous than one-time use," Edward Arsura, chairman of medicine at Richmond University Medical Center, told the Staten Island Advance on Friday. "Exercise and heat can accentuate absorption."

Dr. Ronald Grelsamer, of Mount Sinai Medical Center, said Newman had a very abnormal amount of methyl salicylate in her body.

"She either lathered herself with it, or used way too much, or she used a normal amount and an abnormal percentage was absorbed into her body," he said.

Her mother, Alice Newman, said she still couldn't believe her daughter's death was caused by a sports cream.

"I am scrupulous about my children's health," she told the Advance. "I did not think an over-the-counter product could be unsafe."

KTA
06-09-2007, 03:49 PM
thats crazy, I knew I didnt like that kinda stuff for a reason

mustang04
06-09-2007, 04:24 PM
Originally posted by kaorder1999
she told the Advance. "I did not think an over-the-counter product could be unsafe."
stupid comment of the day

kaorder1999
06-09-2007, 04:27 PM
no kidding. Tell her to down a bottle of extra strength tylenol and see what happens...

Old Tiger
06-09-2007, 06:07 PM
Heat makes you run faster :D

You can never have to much!

LH Panther Mom
06-09-2007, 06:13 PM
Originally posted by Tiger WR
Heat makes you run faster :D

You can never have to much!


Originally posted by mustang04
stupid comment of the day
Or not.... :doh:

mustang59
06-09-2007, 11:10 PM
How very sad, but I'm sure most people wouldn't think about overdosing on something you put on your skin.

ASUFrisbeeStud
06-10-2007, 03:17 PM
This will make a great lawsuit.

BuffyMars
06-10-2007, 03:24 PM
This story just depresses me. I live for bio-freeze, that stuff is awesome for my neck and back.

And I used to give my mom a hard time growing up because she always reeked of flex-all so I either wouldn't hug her because she "stunk" or I would hold my breath.

Now she laughs at me....its true, what goes around comes around. :doh: