(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.

[Pyro7480]

Comments, experiences, etc. please. :-)

[Pyro7480]

Ping!

[RipSawyer]

Redheads are more sensitive to everything. I don't know why but they are.

[Phantom Lord]

I dated a red head in college, and she could take some pain.

[Mr. Jeeves]

I thought they just caused more pain to others...

[Pyro7480]

Don't forget their sensitivity to the sun. That "thin" skin of theirs is why they're so sensitive.. ;-) (getting ready to duck in a fireproof suit) :-)

[Pyro7480]

Oh man, I know about that "fact!" (It's more of a tendency, in my opinion, particularly with one redhead I know.) :-)

[Pyro7480]

I'm not even going to ask about your post... ;-) (tries to keep mouth shut)

[.38sw]

Hm. I do know that when I go to the dentist for things like fillings and root canals, the dentist is always surprised at how much anaesthesia it takes for me. Ouch...

[elephantlips]

Red hair runs in my family and I am super sensitive to pain. My father,who had red hair, could have his teeth extracted without novocaine. Go figure.

[Phantom Lord]

I couldnt resist. The red... I mean thread was just begging for it!

[sweetliberty]

"I do know that when I go to the dentist for things like fillings and root canals, the dentist is always surprised at how much anaesthesia it takes for me."

Same here. By the time I was in my mid-teens, the dentist had given up trying to work on me without using general anesthesia.

Some years back I had an accident that resulted in a lacerated Achilles tendon. In the emergency room they were trying to tell me that I couldn't be in as much pain as I seemed to be. I am normally a very civil person, but when I am in pain I can get rather abrasive. I told them in no uncertain terms not to try and tell me how much pain I was or was not in. I may have offered to share it with them.

[blam]

Redheads 'Are Neanderthals'

[Robe]

Every time I hear someone say “knockout” I can’t help but think of a very funny incident
in NYC many years ago.
I was in a NYC taxi on a crowded mid-town street when a VERY pregnant beautiful
young redhead darted out in front of the cab. After braking hard and almost hitting the
lass. The cabby put his head out the window and in a voice that could only belong the a
NYC hack yelled...” Hey lady, ya can get knocked down too!!!

[Cogadh na Sith]

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

Did it correlate with hair color specifically, or did they take into account drinking? Drinkers need more anesthetic than non-drinkers and lots of readheads have Irish lineage...

[Old Professer]

They did say, phenotype, not phrenotype, didn't they?

[gcruse]

Bump for beautiful redheads.

[Capt_Hank]

Well, There is nothing sexier than a natural redhead. Just keep them out of sun and caress them gently. Their skin is so soft and delicate.

[null and void]

YIKES!

[CyberCowboy777]

My wife, a red head, is very sensitive to pain.

Except when it comes to child birth. She has given birth to three boys (9 lbs. 2 oz, 9 lbs 3 oz and 8 lbs 6 oz) without any medication (other than Tylenol after the fact).

Two took less than 3 hours to be born and the other took 6 hours. (Start of regular contractions to Birth)

It is truly un-believable, all with barely a moan.

[stlrocket]

How about this CheeseHead Redhead!

MORE THAN JUST A CHEESEHEAD!

[Capt_Hank]

LMAO

[agrandis]

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!

[Aggie Mama]

BTTT

[ValerieUSA]

What a surprise to see you on this thread! *LOL*

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Here's an "aw-w-w-w" for you:

[ValerieUSA]

*LOL* What is this, the beginnings of a new redhead ping list?
How special!!!

[ValerieUSA]

Should we post painfully cute redhead pics?

[Lilly]

I'll attest to that.

...personal experience!

[Cacique]

This might be of interest to you

[cajungirl]

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!!!

[kayak]

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).

[2sheep]

>"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.

[McGavin999]

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.

[Capt_Hank]

I'm guilty........!

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

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.

[2sheep]

Another red head:  Cayenne (Capsicum frutescens)

Google Search: capsicum pain

[TailspinJim]

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

[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?