Cervical artery dissection Q&As
Published by Bupa's health information team, March 2009.
Answers to questions about cervical artery dissection
This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.
- Is it true that having your hair washed at the hairdresser's can cause a stroke?
- Can chiropractic cause cervical artery dissection?
- Why do I need to be monitored if I'm prescribed warfarin?
Is it true that having your hair washed at the hairdresser's can cause a stroke?
Anything that causes your neck to be extended too far - including bending your neck backwards over a sink, as in a hairdresser's salon - could potentially damage the arteries in your neck and cause a stroke. However, it is rare to get a stroke in this way.
Explanation
There have been a few reported cases of people suffering a stroke after having their hair washed at a hairdresser's (sometimes referred to as 'beauty parlour stroke syndrome'). However, this is not a common problem, considering the large number of people who visit the hairdresser's every day without experiencing an injury.
Your hair is usually washed in a hairdresser's by hanging your head backwards over a sink. If your neck is extended back too far, there is the potential to damage the arteries in your neck, causing cervical artery dissection. This can then lead to a stroke. As with any injury to the neck, certain people may be more prone to cervical artery dissection, including people with disorders affecting the blood vessels.
Hairdressers should be trained not to overextend your neck while washing your hair. However, if you feel any discomfort while having your hair washed, ask the hairdresser to stop and to provide extra support for your neck, such as a cushion or rolled up towel.
Sources
- Shimura H, Yuzawa K, Nozue M. Stroke after visit to the hairdresser. Lancet 1997; 350(9093):1778.
Can chiropractic cause cervical artery dissection?
Yes, as with anything that affects your neck, it's possible to get a cervical artery dissection after having chiropractic. This may be more likely if you are already at risk of the condition.
Explanation
Chiropractors treat a variety of conditions, including back, neck and shoulder pain, using spinal manipulation and other manual treatments. There have been reports of the spinal manipulation used in chiropractic triggering cervical artery dissection in some people, which can then go on to cause stroke. However, these people may have already been susceptible to the cervical artery dissection. A definite link hasn't been established.
Before you see a chiropractor, check that he or she is registered with the General Chiropractic Council. You must legally be registered with the General Chiropractic Council to call yourself a chiropractor in the UK. The council sets standards of practice and conduct for all chiropractors.
Further information
- The General Chiropractic Council
www.gcc-uk.org
Sources
- Carotid artery dissection. eMedicine. www.emedicine.com, accessed 4 December 2008
- What can I expect when I see a chiropractor. General Chiropractic Council, September 2007. www.gcc-uk.org
- Ernst E. Chiropractic: a critical evaluation. J Pain Symptom Manag 2008; 5:544-562
- Haneline MTA, Rosner ALA. The etiology of cervical artery dissection. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2007; 6(3):110-120
Why do I need to be monitored if I'm prescribed warfarin?
Warfarin works by thinning your blood, making it less likely to clot. However, sometimes your blood can become too 'thin', leaving you at risk of complications due to increased bleeding. For this reason, you will need to be carefully monitored while you take it.
Explanation
You will need regular blood tests while you are taking warfarin, to check that the warfarin isn't causing your blood to become too thin. The blood tests will take a measure of your INR (international normalised ratio) - this is a measure of how quickly it takes your blood to clot, compared with normal.
When you first start treatment with warfarin, you will need to have your INR measured every day or every other day, while your doctor works out the best dose for you. Eventually, once your INR has stabilised, you will be monitored at longer intervals.
Sources
- Joint Formulary Committee. British National Formulary. 55th ed. London: British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, 2008:127, 134
Related topics
This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.
Publication date: March 2009
Cervical artery dissection factsheet
Visit the cervical artery dissection health factsheet for more information.
Rate this page
