Refer China: Bodybuilder Bi Jiaqi Dies at 26 After Reporting Swollen Head

Fitness influencer Bi Jiaqi died suddenly. He recently joked about his head being swollen. Friends noted prior signs like purple lips and bulging neck veins, possible indicators of oxygen/circulatory issues. Experts link extreme pre-competition dehydration and fat loss to heart strain, increasing thrombosis and sudden death risk.

A bodybuilding influencer has died suddenly in his sleep, aged 26.

Fitness content creator Bi Jiaqi, who was known for his grueling workouts and great physique, passed away on Friday morning.

Bodybuilder influencer Bi Jiaqi, 26, dies after complaining his 'head was swollen like a steamed bun'

Only hours before, the influencer had been discussing plans for his next bodybuilding competition with friends online.

Friends reported noticing he didn't seem right in the days leading up to his death, but just put it down to training fatigue.

In recent photos of the bodybuilder, they noticed his lips appeared purple and his eyes looked tired.

They also said the blood vessels in his neck were abnormally bulging.

These symptoms can suggest oxygen deficiency and circulatory problems, which can lead to cardiac arrest.

The exact cause of his death has yet to be announced.

The fitness influencer had recently bought a new house and had promised to host a dinner party for friends when it was time to move in.

Tragically, he passed away before it was renovated.

Earlier this month, Jiaqi, who came from Ningbo in China, posted a selfie and joked that his 'head was swollen like a steamed bun', as reported by NeedToKnow.

Friends reported noticing he didn't seem right in the days leading up to his death, but just put it down to training fatigue

His training partners thought it was a normal reaction to extreme fat loss and pre-competition dehydration.

Many athletes reduce their body fat percentage to single digits through extreme water and salt restriction to make their muscles more defined, but it can put severe strain on the heart.

Zhang Yu, a cardiologist at Fuwai Hospital in Shenzhen, said: 'Long-term high-intensity fitness training can place a huge burden on the cardiovascular system.

'In particular, the dehydration and fat reduction methods commonly used by bodybuilders before competitions can make the blood thicker, greatly increasing the risk of thrombosis.

'Exercise is a double-edged sword – both inactivity and excessive exercise are bad for the heart.