(Redheads)That Flaming Hair Could Mean Flaming Pain - Study

Yahoo! News (Reuters) ^ | 10/14/02 | n/a

[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.

[Godebert]

Great find.

[packrat35]

I know that going to the dentist used to be a rel pain for me. I could feel it whenever he drilled. I finally learned to tell the dentist to give the medicine an extra 30 minutes to take effect and I did not feel the pain then. At least until it wore off.

[Lilly]

Wow!
Thanks for replying!

All my life I've been a "Mosquito Magnet" and never could understand why. My family would roll their eyes at my hesitency of spending summer evenings outdoors in the countryside. They would shake their heads and enjoy their mosquito-free evenings.

So what causes the magnetism/negative reactions to the bites of these little winged-assasins?

[cajungirl]

Beats me. The allergic response must have something to do with redheads immune systems. Why they attract the insects, I don't know. Maybe they smell better than the rest of us. I am intrigued with the connection to color blindedness,,we discovered my redhead daughter was colorblind, red/gree I think, as is my hubby who is redheaded. I had a redheaded dad and I carry it as I am partly colorblind. We laugh and explain this as why none of us can match clothing well,,we end up wearing mismatches cause they all look sort of gray to us.

[Lilly]

Wow! So your whole family is affected with color-blindedness. Goodness.

I don't have trouble with colors thank God.
But I have become quite fond of wintertime when there are no bugs!

Take care friend!

[Black Agnes]

*cackle*.

[luckystarmom]

That's what I thought!! My brother is a redhead, and he caused me lots of pain when we were growing up!!!!

I am joking. I love him dearly. I think redheads have lots of personality because they standout.

[luckystarmom]

Redheads and bipolar run on the same gene. Very interesting. Both redheadedness and manic depression run in my family.

I'm blond. (I'm watching out for the manic depression.)

[Bigg Red]

Is that a man or a woman?

[Bigg Red]

What a beautiful child! Yours?

[Bigg Red]

Very interesting. Thanks for the ping. (Don't tell anybody, but my color comes out of a bottle.)

[gcruse]

Right click on the image for the file name and find out.

[Dan from Michigan]

I guess that doesn't apply to those with flaming sideburns. I can take a ton of pain. Anyone that doesn't believe me can watch me pop my shoulder(supluxed, rolls around the socket) on cue.

I've had that for 5 years, and someday need to get it fixed.

[SunkenCiv]

Just adding this to the GGG catalog, not sending a general distribution.

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