Most of us think that salon shampoo For a moment of relaxation, lean back and let your stylist wash and rinse your hair.
But for a small number of people, that innocuous posture can cause a cascade of blood vessel damage known as Beauty Salon Stroke Syndrome (BPSS).
What is BPSS? stroke-like event It is caused by hyperextension and rotation during hair washing and other activities, which can compress or tear the vertebral arteries in the neck.
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The term was popularized in 1993, when New York neurologist Michael Weintraub described five case reports of patients who: Symptoms developed After salon shampoo treatment.
A recent review published this year in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine identified 54 cases of BPSS documented over nearly 50 years from 22 studies. Forty-two of the cases began in beauty salons, eight in dental settings, and four in other settings.
The most affected patients (approximately 80%) are women and range in age from teenagers to the elderly.
A 2018 review in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine states that BPSS occurs when the neck is held in an extremely backward or twisted position during irrigation or treatment, stretching or compressing the vertebral arteries that run along the spine to the brain.
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In rare cases, this position can cause tears, called dissections, in the artery walls, which can form clots and become blocked. blood flow to the brain.
The same review describes how even minor structural problems, such as bone spurs (bone spurs) in the cervical spine, can worsen compression and increase risk. In fact, casual head tilting can temporarily restrict blood supply to important parts of the brainstem and cerebellum.
Symptoms usually appear during or within a few days of posturing, according to a review in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Common warning signs include dizziness, dizziness, neck pain, or visual impairment. In more severe cases, weakness, numbness, or speech problems may occur.
Diagnosis usually includes MRI or CT angiography to confirm arterial dissection. As with other types of stroke, doctors often treat patients by: Antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugsbut experts say vascular stenting or surgery may be necessary.
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Health researchers writing for the American Council on Science and Health in New York City stress that BPSS is extremely rare and is primarily known from isolated case reports rather than population data.
Still, the Arizona Professional Beauty Association advises stylists to support their necks with things like rolled towels or cushions to help clients sit more upright while washing.
Experts also advise clients to seek medical advice immediately if they experience neck tension or dizziness.
