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In Asia, getting massages is considered a unique experience.

Professional massages can work wonders because they focus on targeting problems at specific points in the body to release overall tension.

However, experts are warning against this age-old practice following the deaths of a Thai singer and a Singaporean tourist after visits to massage parlors in Thailand.

Here’s everything we know about the deaths and their connection to massages.

What happened to the women who got massages?

On Sunday, 20-year-old Chayada Prao-hom died in a hospital in the northeastern city of Udon Thani. According to reports, her health had deteriorated after three massages since October. Nation TV reported that she received the massages to relieve shoulder problems.

Days before she died, on November 6, the Northern Mo Lam singer shared information about the massages from the same massage parlor on Facebook, along with an X-ray of her spine.

She claimed in the post that she was bedridden and her body became numb. Instead of getting better with each session, her condition only got worse.

According to the South China Morning Post, Chayada said in her post that she visited a salon for two sessions of “a neck twist” and another massage by a masseuse with a “heavy hand,” which left her with bruises and swelling all over. her body for a week.

Two weeks later she could no longer lift her right arm and became paralyzed.

“I want my story to be a lesson for those who enjoy being massaged. I have to recover. I already want to work,” she wrote.

In another similar case, police said a Singaporean tourist died during a massage at a salon in Phuket.

According to the Bangkok Post, 52-year-old Lee Mun Tuk died after breathing problems during a 45-minute oil massage at a salon on Patong Beach.

When he arrived at Patong Hospital, he was pronounced dead despite immediate first aid from staff and resuscitation efforts by emergency responders.

According to Patong police chief Chalermchai Hernsawad, the man’s wife, who was traveling with him, refused to allow an autopsy to determine the precise cause of death. She brought the body home for the funeral.

According to Hernsawad, she told police that her husband was drunk when he went to the session and that she did not believe there was foul play because he was sedentary.

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Did massages cause these deaths?

It was unclear whether the deaths were caused by massages.

According to the hospital, the singer’s death was caused by a blood infection and swelling of the brain.

On Monday, provisional authorities told reporters that an investigation had been launched to determine whether treatments or other underlying factors contributed to her death.

They checked that all masseuses and the salon were operating under the correct license.

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What do experts say?

The deaths shocked the country, which is a popular tourist destination, and prompted experts to warn against certain masseuse techniques.

According to Prof. Dr. Thiravat Hemachudha, consultant at the College of Oriental Medicine of Rangsit University, paralysis can result from twisting the neck or massaging the cervical spine.

They could “increase the risk of damage to the blood vessel walls that supply blood to the brain, especially the back, causing rupture and death of brain tissue, causing hemiplegia and paralysis” if done incorrectly, he warned.

The risk of stroke-related paralysis was higher in those who were obese or had high blood pressure.

“The danger will increase as the force of turning, waving or circling the head increases. Repeating these activities for long periods of time will not only cause problems for the nerves but also for the blood vessels in the neck,” said Dr. Thiravat.

“An experienced masseuse would not twist the client’s neck as this is known as a dangerous point,” said Dr. Chatpon Kongfeangfung on TikTok, according to the South China Morning Mail.

“I have warned people before: never let the masseuse twist your neck because that can be fatal,” the doctor added.

The carotid artery, which supplies the brain with oxygen-rich blood, is located in the neck; any narrowing can lead to strokes or other serious brain damage.

While speculating that Chayada’s death was unlikely to be caused by a spinal cord injury, another doctor warned of the dangers faced by clients who request excessively forceful neck massages.

“This is what is called hyperalgesia. It means that the cells feel like they are not working properly. It will cause the pain on its own. Usually due to inflammation,” posted neurologist DR. Surat Tanprawate on Facebook.

“The most important thing is that if it hurts a lot, the masseuse will press the hardest because that is what the client wants.”

Thai massage is known for its therapeutic benefits; In fact, UNESCO has classified traditional Thai massage, or ‘Nuad Thai’, as part of the country’s intangible cultural heritage.

The practice, which has its roots in the rural customs of farmers, emerged as a way to provide physical relief after long work days.

While many of the country’s therapists are certified by top massage schools, thousands of others work informally, often without formal training, and usually in tourist destinations, according to S.C.M.P.

With input from authorities