Blue man Paul Karason, also known as "Papa Smurf", dies at 62 after suffering from a heat stroke.

According to ABC News, Karason was pronounced dead at a Washington hospital this week. His death was reportedly due to a heart attack, though he was initially hospitalized for pneumonia treatment. According to his estranged wife, Jo Anna Karason, "Papa Smurf" also suffered from severe stroke.

The Las Vegas Guardian Express reports that his death was in no way connected to argyria - a health condition that has rendered Karason blue. Karason first appeared on national television in 2008 after being diagnosed of having the condition.

Argyria is a health condition that results from prolonged contact with or ingestion of silver salts, says Medscape. It is characterized by gray to gray-black staining of the skin and mucous membranes produced by silver deposition.

In the case of Karason, an ad promising health and rejuvenation through colloidal silver was his ticket to becoming the blue "Papa Smurf" everyone recognizes today. He reportedly took 10 ounces of colloidal silver each day to treat a severe case of dermatitis. Some of his other ailments also flew out the window when he started taking in his home-brew.

"The acid reflux problem I'd been having just went away completely," he told ABC News. "I had arthritis in my shoulders so bad I couldn't pull a T-shirt off. And the next thing I knew, it was just gone."

Silver was aptly used to fight infection in the past. Given its antibacterial properties, it was a popular remedy for various ailments such as the common colds and some allergies. According to Medscape, colloidal silver dietary supplements were also widely marketed as cure for cancer, AIDS, diabetes mellitus and herpetic infections.

It wasn't until 1999 that the FDA banned it use due to its link with argyria. Ever since then, the dietary supplement has been deemed unsafe to use by the medical community.

Although argyria renders one's skin, internal organs and other parts of the body blue, it is said to be non-life threatening. The condition is reportedly more of a "cosmetic concern" due to the blue pigmentation in the skin of the afflicted. Taking in silver has also been linked to kidney damage and may lead to negative reactions when taken with other medicines.