This Woman Contracted A Life-Threatening Condition After Getting Her Hair Washed At A Salon

Jun 07, 2018

Everyone loves getting pampered at the salon, but the medical community is now warning about a dangerous condition that can follow the simple task of getting your hair washed. This condition is known as 'vertebral artery dissection', or 'beauty parlor stroke syndrome' for easier terminology. The string of events that follow beauty parlor stroke syndrome can turn an enjoyable experience like getting your hair shampooed into a potentially fatal situation. 

Vertebral artery dissection occurs when someone hyperextends their neck for a duration longer than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Dr. Peter Gloviczki M.D. of Mayo Clinic refers to this particular hyperextension as a, 'malposition'. Extending your neck muscles too far can form a rise in pressure within your vertebral artery, which can eventually lead to a tear.

This tear is then at a high risk for forming into a blood clot, one of the most common risk factors in developing a stroke. In fact, San Diego native Elizabeth Smith found herself near-death after she suffered a stroke one week following her hair appointment. Fortunately, she was able to make it out alive, but not without some serious impairments that were direct results of beauty parlor syndrome. 
 

It is important to familiarize yourself with the symptoms associated with vertebral artery dissection so that you can correctly identify when you should seek out medical attention. Common symptoms include: migraines, slurred speech, fatigue or weakness, and even fainting. 

Some patients such as Elizabeth Smith found that the weakness was isolated to one side of their body. If you find yourself experiencing these troublesome symptoms after a visit to the beauty salon, it is imperative that you are appropriately evaluated by a medical professional. 

There are fortunately ways that you can help prevent the risk of becoming a victim to beauty parlor stroke syndrome. Certain exercises can strengthen the muscles in your neck in order to decrease the vulnerability level of you experiencing a tear in this area. 

You can also request that there be a padded neck area on the sinks to lower the amount in which you have to extend your neck during shampoo sessions

Letting others know about the risks associated with beauty parlor stroke syndrome could save an unknowing client from a potentially fatal situation. 

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!