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Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 11 Dec 2024

Thai Singer’s Alleged Death After Massage Is A Reminder Of How Risky It Can Be; Know How Neck Twisting Can Cause A Stroke

Chayada reported her condition was deteriorating further with each session (Pic: SCMP)

The death of popular Thai singer Chayada Prao-hom following a visit to a massage parlour in Bangkok has sparked warnings from doctors on how risky the practice can be.
According to news reports, 20-year-old Chayada died on Sunday after her health deteriorated following three massage sessions since October. Chayada had taken the massages to relieve shoulder pain. However, the aftermath led her to be bedridden, as she had also posted details about the sessions on social media, saying numbness was “spreading through her body.”.
Chayada reported her condition was deteriorating further with each session.
In November, she said she had gone to a parlour for “a neck twist" and another massage with a "heavy hand." However, she was left paralyzed a fortnight later, unable to lift her right arm. "I want my story to be a lesson for those who like being massaged a lot. I must recover. I want to work already," Chayada wrote on Instagram.

Doctors say Chayada died from a blood infection and brain swelling

According to doctors, Chayada passed away due to severe blood infection and swelling in the brain. The police have now launched an investigation into her death to know if it was linked to the treatments or any other underlying causes.
The authorities confirmed that the parlour and all the masseuses were working with proper licenses.

Forceful neck twisting can cause a stroke

Even though it is not clear whether massages were the reason for her death, the incident has sparked warnings from experts against some techniques used by masseuses.
According to experts, during massages sometimes a forceful twisting can trigger a stroke. A dissection-related stroke is completely different from a regular stroke, which has a slow onset over hours or days, and symptoms include:
  • Headache
  • Pain in your neck and face
  • Visual changes
  • Weakness on one side of the body
Doctors say dissection-related strokes—a common cause of stroke in young and middle-aged adults—are usually caused by a tear in the inner layer of an artery wall that allows blood to separate the layers and bulge the artery wall. It leads to a stoppage of blood flow through the artery. On the other hand, regular strokes are caused due to various reasons, which include age, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, smoking, metabolic syndrome, and atrial fibrillation.
Also, improper neck movements can lead to a tear in the blood vessel wall, forming a clot and reducing blood flow to the brain, thereby resulting in a stroke. Even though dissections often heal on their own, medical therapies, which include antiplatelet therapy and anticoagulant medications, help reduce the risk of blood clots.

Is it dangerous to get a massage done?

According to doctors, untrained people should not be giving massages, as rapid and quick neck twists can have fatal consequences. Apart from stroke, such manipulation also causes paralysis or even death if not properly diagnosed or treated.

Ways to prevent carotid artery dissection

If you are at risk of carotid artery dissection, you can optimize your health by:
  • Avoiding prolonged extreme neck positions
  • Avoiding rapid head and neck movements
  • Avoiding heavy weightlifting
  • Eating a heart-healthy diet with fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains
  • Exercising regularly
  • Managing blood pressure levels
  • Quitting smoking and drinking
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