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(Redheads)That Flaming Hair Could Mean Flaming Pain - Study
Yahoo! News (Reuters) ^ | 10/14/02 | n/a

Posted on 10/14/2002 3:16:45 PM PDT by Pyro7480

That Flaming Hair Could Mean Flaming Pain - Study

Mon Oct 14, 5:50 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -

Redheads may actually have another trait that makes them stand out -- sensitivity to pain, specialists reported on Tuesday.

People with natural red hair need about 20 percent more anesthesia than people with other hair colors, they told a meeting of anesthesiologists. The unexpected finding not only suggests that redheads are more sensitive to pain, but offers insights into how anesthesia works in people.

"Red hair is the first visible human trait, or phenotype, that is linked to anesthetic requirement," Dr. Edwin Liem of the University of Louisville in Kentucky said in a statement.

"In a nutshell, redheads are likely to experience more pain from a given stimulus and therefore require more anesthesia to alleviate that pain," he added.

Liem, who reported his findings to a meeting in Orlando, Florida of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, said the finding is important news for specialists who monitor patients during surgery.

"The art and science of anesthesiology is choosing the right dose," he said. "There is very little difference between the effective dose and the toxic dose of most anesthetics. Patients can awaken during surgery if they are given insufficient anesthesia or suffer cardiac and pulmonary complications when they are given too much."

He said scientists do not fully understand how anesthesia works, but the findings offers clues, as people with red hair have a certain genetic variant.

"Since red hair can be traced to particular mutations (variations) in the melanocortin 1 receptor, we now have the opportunity to evaluate central nervous system pathways that may influence or mediate anesthetic requirement," Liem said.

"Investigating the role of melanocortin system in the central nervous system is thus likely to help us understand fundamental questions such as which systems in the brain produce unconsciousness and which modulate pain perception."

Liem's team studied white women aged 19 to 40 who were given the inhaled anesthetic desflurane. Their physical responses were closely monitored, especially unconscious reflex arm or leg movement in response to painful stimulation.

More anesthesia was needed to block movement in redheads than in participants with dark or blond hair, Liem said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: anesthesia; freckles; gingergene; gingers; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; pain; redhair; redheads; science; study
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To: Capt_Hank
How about this CheeseHead Redhead!

MORE THAN JUST A CHEESEHEAD!

21 posted on 10/14/2002 4:04:40 PM PDT by stlrocket
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To: stlrocket
LMAO
22 posted on 10/14/2002 4:06:00 PM PDT by Capt_Hank
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To: Pyro7480
Not true of this redhead!

Ouch! Ohhhh, that huuuurt! Ahhhh! Ohhhhh! Help!

Man, I hit one of the keys with the side of my finger!

23 posted on 10/14/2002 4:06:28 PM PDT by agrandis
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs
BTTT
24 posted on 10/14/2002 4:08:31 PM PDT by Aggie Mama
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To: Capt_Hank
What a surprise to see you on this thread! *LOL*
25 posted on 10/14/2002 4:18:45 PM PDT by ValerieUSA
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To: Pyro7480
Here's an "aw-w-w-w" for you:


26 posted on 10/14/2002 4:21:57 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: Pyro7480
*LOL* What is this, the beginnings of a new redhead ping list?
How special!!!
27 posted on 10/14/2002 4:36:58 PM PDT by ValerieUSA
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Should we post painfully cute redhead pics?

28 posted on 10/14/2002 4:40:05 PM PDT by ValerieUSA
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To: RipSawyer
I'll attest to that.

...personal experience!
29 posted on 10/14/2002 4:49:44 PM PDT by Lilly
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To: Black Agnes
This might be of interest to you
30 posted on 10/14/2002 4:56:20 PM PDT by Cacique
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To: Lilly
Redheads are very allergic too,,a doc recommended to me that redheads in the south take zyrtec or claritin all the time because of sensitivity to mosquito bites. Redheads also are more often colorblind and Bipolar,,runs on the same gene. I am from a family of redheads, married to one and the mother of one,,mine tolerate pain pretty well,,,they live with me!!!
31 posted on 10/14/2002 4:58:31 PM PDT by cajungirl
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To: Pyro7480
My red-headed son is almost 26 years old. When he was an infant our family practitioner in a very small town in a rural area told me that he was likely to be sensitive to pain ..... and also to medicines .... meaning that it might take less medicine to be effective with him.

It has apparently taken these "specialists" quite a bit longer to figure it out.

Btw, my son is extremely tolerant of pain, does not sunburn, but has had a lot of allergies (which he is gradually "outgrowing" as he gets older).

32 posted on 10/14/2002 5:07:57 PM PDT by kayak
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To: Pyro7480; aruanan; LadyDoc; bonesmccoy; Thinkin' Gal; Prodigal Daughter; Jeremiah Jr
>"The art and science of anesthesiology is choosing the right dose," he said. "There is very little difference between the effective dose and the toxic dose of most anesthetics. Patients can awaken during surgery if they are given insufficient anesthesia or suffer cardiac and pulmonary complications when they are given too much."

The above article must be for public consumption as surely anesthesiologists have known this for a long time.  Redheads being more allergic are also likely to be allergic to anesthetic and can croak when under.  Their malpractice insurance rates probably reflect this.  I knew a redhead who had allergic reactions to dental anesthetic.  Some animals with red hair are also more allergic.  Using parasiticides in animals has similar problems as the goal should be to kill the parasite and not the host.  If we bump in any doctors and veterinarians, perhaps we will learn more.

33 posted on 10/14/2002 5:12:06 PM PDT by 2sheep
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To: Pyro7480
I don't know how true this is. I'm a natural redhead and I'm just the opposite. If you give me a mild tranquilizer, I'm out like a light for 36 hours. One glass of wine and I'm drunk. Since I've never had surgery I don't know about what it would take to put me under, but considering the way I react to any medication I would say they would only have to pull out the needle and I'd be out.
34 posted on 10/14/2002 5:22:41 PM PDT by McGavin999
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Comment #35 Removed by Moderator

To: ValerieUSA
I'm guilty........!
36 posted on 10/14/2002 5:52:05 PM PDT by Capt_Hank
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Comment #37 Removed by Moderator

To: Aggie Mama
This study is absolutley true. My doctor gave me a list that he keeps about how redheads are different. They tend to bleed more in surgery, need more anesthetic, more allergic to insect bites, the sun ( duh), and detergents. You might notice that most soaps that are advertized for sensative skin have redheads as models.

On the plus side we smell like babies because we lack oil in our skin. We are highly prized in France as perfume testers because the perfumes stay pure and don't 'turn' on our skin.
38 posted on 10/14/2002 6:06:54 PM PDT by Hillary's Lovely Legs
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To: BurkeCalhounDabney

Another red head:  Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens)

Google Search: capsicum pain

39 posted on 10/14/2002 6:44:32 PM PDT by 2sheep
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To: Pyro7480
Interesting post......My redheaded wife,TailspinMary, underwent a tonsilectimy operation at age 24, before we were married and was put to sleep with either. She never went 'out', could see and hear everything but couldn't move or talk. She said it was a horrible experience, and gave 'em hell afterwards. She is also very chemically sensetive, has had antifalatic reactions to a number of antibiotics. Also bad reaction to insect bites. Surprisingly, she had five kids in 4 1/2 yrs. single childbirth, with no anethesia, and one was a breech birth, 17 hrs labor. This year she had four dental implants installed incl. bone transplant, all on a local. She even had chickenpox four times! Amazing woman, skin smoothe as silk, now age 72. Jim
40 posted on 10/14/2002 6:46:56 PM PDT by TailspinJim
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