Salon visit ends in tragedy: Head massage leads to stroke for Karnataka man

A visit to a salon ended tragically for a 30-year-old man in Ballari, Karnataka, after a ‘free head massage’ by a barber resulted in a stroke. The man, a housekeeping worker, experienced severe pain during the neck manipulation but initially dismissed it, according to a leading news website.

The situation worsened hours after the massage when he experienced difficulty speaking and weakness on his left side. He went to the hospital where doctors diagnosed him with a stroke caused by a carotid artery tear due to aggressive neck twisting. He received anticoagulant treatment to prevent further complications and spent nearly two months in intensive care before returning home.



This type of stroke, called a dissection-related stroke, happens when the blood vessel wall is damaged, reducing blood flow to the brain. Sudden and forceful neck movements can lead to serious health issues, including strokes or even death.

In a similar case, a 50-year-old woman from Hyderabad suffered dizziness, nausea, and vomiting during a hair wash at a salon in November 2022, which was later identified as a stroke. Such incidents, often referred to as "salon stroke" or "beauty parlour stroke," can result from sudden and forceful neck movements, leading to decreased blood flow to the brain and potential brain damage.