Beauty parlour stroke syndrome - the Stroke Association comments

The Mail on Sunday has reported of a man who has won £90,000 compensation after experiencing a devastating stroke he believes occurred as a result of having his hair washed.

Alexis Wieroniey, Deputy Director of Policy and Influencing at the Stroke Association, said: “A stroke can sometimes be caused if you tear the lining of an artery in your neck. In many cases, there’s no clear reason behind this happening, but for some people it could be the result of an injury. There is a very small chance that an injury might be caused by extending your neck back in a chair to have your hair washed, but no definitive link has been established between hair washing and strokes.

“If you are worried about your stroke risk, the most important step you can take is to get your blood pressure checked. High blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor for stroke but it is treatable. It often presents no symptoms, so many people are unaware that they have it. Getting your blood pressure tested only takes a moment and it could save your life, so regular checks are extremely important.”