Never could he have anticipated such a distressing outcome. A housekeeping worker reportedly experienced considerable discomfort during the massage but initially dismissed it and returned home. However, just a few hours later, he began to feel extreme weakness and lost the ability to speak.
Upon being admitted to the hospital, medical staff determined that he had suffered a stroke due to a tear in the carotid artery, which was linked to the aggressive neck movements. To prevent further complications, he underwent anticoagulant therapy and spent nearly two months in intensive care before he was finally able to return home.
Incidents referred to as “salon stroke” or “beauty parlour stroke” can arise from sudden and forceful neck movements, which may impair blood flow to the brain and potentially lead to brain injury.
This specific type of stroke, known as a dissection-related stroke, occurs when the wall of a blood vessel is damaged, leading to reduced blood flow to the brain.
While such cases may not frequently make headlines, they are not uncommon. A notable incident occurred in 2022.
In a similar case, a 50-year-old woman from Hyderabad reported symptoms of dizziness, nausea, and vomiting while having her hair washed at a salon in November 2022, which was later identified as a stroke.
Dr. Sreekanta Swamy, a Senior Consultant in Neurology at Aster RV Hospital, highlighted that sudden and forceful neck movements can lead to serious health issues, including strokes or, in severe instances, even death.
He elaborated that Ramkumar’s stroke was related to a dissection, which differs from a conventional stroke. In this case, the tearing of a blood vessel wall was triggered by neck manipulation, resulting in reduced blood flow and ultimately causing the stroke.
