Arlindo “Montanha” de Souza, the “Brazilian Popeye”
Arlindo de Souza was compared to the famous cartoon sailor due to his exaggerated physique, probably the result of applying mineral oil to his arms — a practice considered dangerous by medical experts.
He died Arlindo de Souzaknown as Arlindo Montanha or Arlindo Anomalia, and considered the “Brazilian Popeye“, at 55 years old.
Arlindo became known nationally after appearing on television programs with large muscles in the armsresult of the application of mineral oil. With an exaggerated physique, he began to be compared to the famous cartoon sailor.
The cause of death was not disclosed, says the .
Arlindo Montanha lived in Águas Compridas, Olinda, in the state of Pernambuco, and died in the early hours of Tuesday, at the Otávio de Freitas Hospital, in Recife, where had been hospitalized since December.
Bricklayer by profession, Arlindo changed the body with the application of mineral oil and alcohol, a practice considered dangerous and condemned by doctors.
Arlindo’s case drew attention to the use of anabolics and other substances for increase muscle mass. Among other problems, steroid use is associated with serious risks to kidney healthsuch as increased blood pressure, cellular damage and even death.
Anis Mitricardiologist and president of the Association of Hospitals and Health Services of the State of São Paulo, warns that the use of anabolic hormones, synthetic or notcauses numerous side effects, especially when used in high doses.
“When someone uses hormones to do bodybuilding, they end up feeling like they have better dispositionand that muscle recovery is easier, and that you can lift more weight. And that ends up create dependency. However, this use, both in the short and long term, generates side effects that they cannot control”, the doctor told Agência Brasil.
Among the recorded side effects are clot formation in the blood that can lead to a stroke, stroke or heart attackin addition to oncological effects which can increase the predisposition to certain types of cancer, such as prostate cancer, breast and thyroid cancer.
“It is not possible to control what the safe dose is. There are also psychic and psychological effects: the person becomes more nervous, more aggressivein addition to simpler effects, with the hair loss, itching and redness of the skinand increased blood pressure. All of this makes hormones dangerous”, explains the doctor.
“Arlindo applied these mineral oils inside the muscleswhich can also lead to gangrene, muscle rot and thrombosis “, concluded Anis Mitri.
The Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabology (SBEM) also warns that the use, without medical supervision, of testosteronecan be dangerous and cause irreparable damage to the human body.
The use of the substance has become a public health problem and cases of complications are increasingly frequent, notes SBEM, which cites as effects the increase in acne, hair loss, liver function disordersliver tumors, outbursts of anger or aggressive behavior, paranoia, hallucinations, psychoses, blood clots, fluid retention in the body, increased blood pressure and risk of acquiring communicable diseases.
The “real” Popeye only used spinach — which, in reality, do not have any effect on muscle mass, nor do they offer any super powers, but which, curiously, are being .
