video<\/a>, which has been viewed over 8million times, he also urged his followers to stop blasting loud music through headphones and warned against holding in a sneeze.<\/p>\n‘I would never use a massage gun on my neck,’ the neurologist said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘This is because the vertebral and carotid arteries in the neck are vulnerable to damage from the repetitive shear forces from a massage gun.’\u00a0<\/p>\n
These arteries make up a vital part of the circulatory system and supply the brain with blood and life-giving oxygen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dr Chen added that this repetitive damage can increase the risk of an artery tearing, encouraging the formation of blood clots, restricting blood flow and triggering a stroke.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A stroke is a serious medical event that can cause permanent brain damage or even death.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Dr](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/100808837-14958893-Dr_Chen_warned_his_followers_against_using_massage_guns_to_relie-a-6_175397097567.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Dr Chen warned his followers against using massage guns to relieve neck tension, blasting loud music through their headphones and holding in a sneeze<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Dr Chen added that using a muscle gun with direct pressure can also dislodge hidden plaques that line the artery wall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘This can cause a clot to travel to the brain and lead to an ischemic stroke.’\u00a0<\/p>\n
This happens when a blockage cuts off blood supply to part of the brain.<\/p>\n
According to the NHS, around a quarter of strokes in the UK are caused by a narrowing or blockage of the carotid arteries.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The main symptoms of a stroke can happen suddenly and include facial weakness where one side of the face may fall making it hard to smile; arm weakness which impacts a person’s ability to lift both arms; and speech problems.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Anyone who thinks they are having a stroke are urged to call 999 immediately.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Other symptoms include weakness or numbness down one side of the body, blurred vision, confusion and memory loss, headaches and nausea or vomiting.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stroke is a leading global cause of death and disability.<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
There are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year, about one every five minutes.<\/p>\n
For this reason, Dr Chen also\u00a0warned against holding in a sneeze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said: ‘This is because sneezing generates high internal pressure that’s higher than car tire pressure.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘Holding [a sneeze] in forces this pressure into delicate areas and may lead to ruptured ear drums, torn throat tissues and even air leaking into the chest.<\/p>\n
‘In rare cases the sudden spike in pressure can rupture blood vessels in the brain leading to subarachnoid hemorrhage or intracerebral bleeding\u2014especially in individuals with aneurysms or weakened arteries.’<\/p>\n
This type of hemorrhage is an uncommon type of stroke caused by bleeding on the surface of the brain which can be fatal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In this instance, there are usually no warning signs but according to the NHS this type of stroke can happen during physical effort or straining, such as coughing, holding in a sneeze or lifting something heavy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Common symptoms include a sudden excruciating headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, typical stroke-like symptoms and loss of consciousness.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
Your browser does not support iframes.<\/p>\n
\u00a0A subarachnoid haemorrhage is considered a medical emergency.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally, Dr Chen advised turning down the volume before plugging in headphones.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
‘Loud music isn’t just bad for your ears it’s actually bad for your brain as well,’ he said.<\/p>\n
Tackling hearing loss early could delay the development of dementia for a number of years, promising new research suggested this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Studies have long suggested that around four in 10 cases of the memory-robbing condition could be preventable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now experts believe that up to a third of cases could be attributed to hearing loss.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘This is because when the brain struggles to process sound it reallocates resources away from memory and thinking, increasing cognitive decline,’ Dr Chen explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Dementia affects around 982,000 people in the UK and studies show that those with untreated hearing problems may be up to give times more likely to develop the condition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘Sounds over 85 decibels, similar to city traffic, can cause damage over time whereas exposure to 100 plus decibels, like a concert or many earbuds at max volume can cause permanent hearing loss in as little as 15 minutes,’ he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n