How popular beauty treatments could cause a life-threatening stroke, a doctor warns
Having your hair washed in a salon is a welcome moment of relaxation for most people.
But one doctor has warned customers that if they aren’t careful, a hair wash could cause a life-threatening stroke.
Dr. Arun Naik, a neurosurgeon from India, has taken to his Instagram page to highlight the dangers of bending your neck too far back over the sink.
The awkward position can compress or damage the arteries in the neck, he explainedwhich can restrict blood flow to the brain.
In less severe cases, it can cause unpleasant sensations such as dizziness, blurred vision, numbness and slurred speech.
But if the arteries are crushed for long periods of time, it can lead to a fatal stroke, Dr Naik told his 52,000 followers.
“People with high blood pressure, diabetes or a history of neck problems are more at risk,” he added.
Doctors have coined the phenomenon ‘beauty parlor stroke syndrome’ – with the first case reported in the US in 1993.
Since then, several examples have been documented in the medical literature, including one 50 year old woman whose ‘beauty salon stroke’ was initially mistaken for an intestinal problem.
Mother-of-two Adele Burns, from Glasgow, suffered a stroke in a beauty salon in 2016 after a color treatment required washing her hair six times. She could not speak, see or move for 24 hours.
In another case, Elizabeth Smith of San Diego claimed she had a stroke because neither the bowl nor the chair were adjusted to her small body, causing her neck to hyperextend.
Those who visit the hair salon regularly should keep in mind key tips that can prevent ‘beauty salon stroke syndrome’, advised Dr Naik.
First, make sure your neck is adequately supported when resting it over the sink in a salon.
Dr. Naik suggested asking for a towel or pillow to place under your neck to prevent the neck from leaning too far back and “hyperextending.”
It can also help to adjust the salon chair or lower the height of the sink so that your neck is not stretched too far back.
Another important tip is to simply take breaks. Dr. Naik suggested changing positions to relive the tension in the neck.
But you should also be aware of the symptoms of a stroke: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body, confusion, blurred vision, dizziness, and headache.
If you experience any of these unusual symptoms during or after washing your hair, notify the hairdresser and seek immediate medical attention.
Dr. Arun Naik, an India-based neurosurgeon, suggests asking for a towel or pillow to place under your neck to keep the neck from leaning too far back and prevent “hyperextension.”
Symptoms of a stroke are commonly remembered by this four-letter acronym, FAST. Stroke patients may often have their faces droop to one side, have difficulty lifting both arms and may have slurred speech, while time is of the essence as immediate treatment of a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mild stroke can significantly reduce the risk of stroke. a much deadlier major stroke
Dr. Naik added that if you have had neck or vascular problems in the past, you should let salon staff know and consider opting for alternative hair washing techniques, such as using a hand held sprayer while sitting upright.
Strokes affect more than 100,000 Britons every year and claim 38,000 lives.
This makes it the fourth biggest cause of death in Britain and a leading cause of disability.
Nearly 800,000 people are shot in the US every year, resulting in 137,000 deaths.
The problem occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, killing brain cells.
The damage can lead to long-term disability, affect how people think and feel and, in the worst cases, prove fatal.
