Fragrantly Beautiful

Can A Beauty Salon Trip Cause A Stroke?

Many women love the pampering they receive during a visit to the beauty parlor.
A wash, condition and blow dry can give women a whole new look.

During her lifetime, 45-year-old Marilyn Noonan has made hundreds of trips to the beauty parlor, but one in particular changed her life.

Several hours after a hair appointment, Noonan noticed something strange when she looked at herself in the mirror.

"I went to put my makeup on and I noticed one pupil was huge and the other one was a pin point," said Noonan.

She immediately called doctors.

"The second question the neurologist asked me was when did you last have your hair done?" said Noonan.

She was stunned to learn she had hyper-extended her neck while having her hair washed -- putting herself at risk of having what neurologists call a beauty parlor stroke.
"I had stretched my neck so far into the beauty parlor sink that I had stretched and torn the inside of my carotid artery," said Noonan.

"It's rare but it does occur," said Scripps Clinic neurologist Shirley Otis.

Otis said tiny blood vessels within the wall of Noonan’s carotid artery tore -- causing a blood clot to form in the arterial wall.

“These clots will form and get bigger and bigger. It can close off the artery and then go to the brain,” said Otis.

To avoid a potential stroke, Otis provided Marilyn with blood thinners in the hospital for eight days.

"We are really worried about a clot going like this and getting caught in one of these arteries," said Noonan.

Four months later, Noonan’s artery is nearly healed.

Noonan and Otis said this scare at the beauty parlor could be easily prevented.

"I think that all of us should have our neck very supported," said Noonan.

Otis added, “My hope would be that licensed beauticians are educated about the risk of arteries to the neck."

At La Jolla Hair Studio, owner Tony Botticelli uses neck pads and chair cushions to give support to clients.

"If we can shorten the distance between and elevate the client, their neck is going to fit the shampoo bowl better,” said Botticelli.

He also makes sure clients don’t spend longer than three minutes at the shampoo bowl.

Noonan is back at the beauty parlor once again, enjoying the pampering because she’s taking precautions and hopes others will too.

"It’s extremely lethal but extremely rare but it’s easily prevented with the knowledge to protect your neck and protect your artery," said Noonan.

Neurologists we talked to see an average of five to six cases of beauty parlor stroke syndrome a year.

Symptoms include dizziness, lightheadedness, numbing or tingling, or facial or eye asymmetry.

Fragrantly Beautiful

Get a Free Yoga e-Book & Free Report

posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 1:21 PM