If you are one of those who love getting a relaxing and refreshing hair wash at the salon regularly, then your risk of having a heart stroke could be high. Yes, according to a study published in the May 2025 edition of the American Journal of Emergency Medicine this is true.
The study examined 22 studies that analysed 54 cases of "beauty parlor stroke syndrome" across five decades, and determined that the cause of this was the Beauty parlor stroke syndrome (BPSS).
What is Beauty parlor stroke syndrome?
A beauty parlor stroke syndrome is the hyperextension that occurs when you tilt your head over the shampoo bowl in a salon. This causes the vertebral arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain, to compress or tear. In rare cases, this can become the cause of a heart stroke.
Along with a stroke, the syndrome can lead to vertigo, dizziness, blurred vision, loss of balance, headaches, nausea, slurred speech, paralysis and weakness on a specific side of the body, as reported by People. These symptoms can take days or even weeks to appear.
What does the research say?
Well, researchers found that out of the most affected patients, 80% were women, with ages ranging from teenagers to seniors. “Within the panorama of neurological urgencies, BPSS stands out not only for its unique etiology but also for the commonplace nature of its trigger — neck hyperextension during salon hair washes,” the researchers wrote.
In one case, Elizabeth Smith suffered the syndrome in 2014, nearly two weeks after getting her hair done where her neck was "hyper-extended" which led to a stroke that has had lasting consequences. According to Smith, the stroke led her vertebrae to "cut her vertebral artery" which has caused "unsteady gait and loss of motor skills in her left hand" along with an impairment in the left eye.
It is advised to ask for salons to provide and clients to ask for neck support in the form of rolled towels or cushions to help clients sit more upright during washes.
The study examined 22 studies that analysed 54 cases of "beauty parlor stroke syndrome" across five decades, and determined that the cause of this was the Beauty parlor stroke syndrome (BPSS).
What is Beauty parlor stroke syndrome?
A beauty parlor stroke syndrome is the hyperextension that occurs when you tilt your head over the shampoo bowl in a salon. This causes the vertebral arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain, to compress or tear. In rare cases, this can become the cause of a heart stroke.
Along with a stroke, the syndrome can lead to vertigo, dizziness, blurred vision, loss of balance, headaches, nausea, slurred speech, paralysis and weakness on a specific side of the body, as reported by People. These symptoms can take days or even weeks to appear.
What does the research say?
Well, researchers found that out of the most affected patients, 80% were women, with ages ranging from teenagers to seniors. “Within the panorama of neurological urgencies, BPSS stands out not only for its unique etiology but also for the commonplace nature of its trigger — neck hyperextension during salon hair washes,” the researchers wrote.
In one case, Elizabeth Smith suffered the syndrome in 2014, nearly two weeks after getting her hair done where her neck was "hyper-extended" which led to a stroke that has had lasting consequences. According to Smith, the stroke led her vertebrae to "cut her vertebral artery" which has caused "unsteady gait and loss of motor skills in her left hand" along with an impairment in the left eye.
It is advised to ask for salons to provide and clients to ask for neck support in the form of rolled towels or cushions to help clients sit more upright during washes.
You may also like
Grihapravesha: If you want to celebrate Diwali in a new home, then these dates are very auspicious for housewarming..
Priyanka Chopra is in awe of Delhi's lush-green 'khoobsoorti'
ED raids Coldrif manufacturer, TNFDA officials
Assam Police seize 10,000 Yaba tablets, 1.25 lakh packets of cigarettes worth Rs 8 cr in Cachar
Meenakshi Seshadri urges safe Diwali celebrations, says light 'lamps, candles'
