Who doesn’t like going to the hair salon? You get pampered, you do your hair, enjoy the occasional gossip and leave feeling like a million dollars. However, aside from being a bit pricey, there’s another reason why you should be careful when you go to the hair salon and it may be something you never suspected. You know the chair and the uncomfortable sink where they wash your hair? Well you should know that that chair can have some deadly consequences since the position in which you sit while they wash your hair can put you at risk from a stroke.
If you’re uncomfortable it probably means that your neck is pressed hard against the sink, leading to a damage to the blood vessels in your neck which may cause a stroke. This is no joke, one woman noticed sudden weakness in her left arm and leg just one week after she did her hair at the salon. A week later she was rushed to the hospital where doctors confirmed she suffered a stroke. It may sound crazy but it’s true.
What’s a stroke?
A stroke is a “brain attack”. It can happen to anyone at any time. It occurs when blood flow to an area of brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. When brain cells die during a stroke, abilities controlled by that area of the brain such as memory and muscle control are lost. How a person is affected by their stroke depends on where the stroke occurs in the brain and how much the brain is damaged. For example, someone who had a small stroke may only have minor problems such as temporary weakness of an arm or leg. People who have larger strokes may be permanently paralyzed on one side of their body or lose their ability to speak. Some people recover completely from strokes, but more than 2/3 of survivors will have some type of disability.
The statistics on strokes are devastating, it’s the 5th leading cause of death in the US and the number 1 reason for disability. As much as 60% of women and 40% of men fall victims to stroke but sadly nearly 80% of those could have been prevented with timely reaction.
Here are the most common symptoms of stroke you should look out for:
Impaired speech (may sound intoxicated)
Loss of vision, double vision, or spinning vision
One-sided weakness
Drooping face
How can you prevent a stroke?
In the hair salon
First you need to look for a hair salon with an adjustable chair so that the person washing your hair can adjust it to your height and you don’t feel uncomfortable. Before sitting put a towel or even two at the back of your neck to minimize the strain.
At home
The leading reason behind a stroke is high blood pressure which is why you need to monitor yours and keep it under control. Next you need to adopt a healthy eating regimen and eliminate all the processed food, food high in sodium, cholesterol and trans fats. These foods clog your arteries and increase your risk for a stroke. Consume healthy food, whole grains, and healthy fats and watch your sugar intake. Another thing you need to change if you want to stay healthy is be physically active. If you’re not, your risk of stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and so on increases significantly.