YOU MIGHT have memories of frantically trying to cover hickeys as a teenager, though it's not uncommon for adults to get a little carried away and give their partner a nip on the neck too.
In most cases, a love bite is simply a slightly embarrassing reminder of a steamy encounter.
But in rare instances, giving someone a hickey could burst your romantic bubble, as it could result in them having a stroke.
This was the case with a 35-year-old woman from Denmark, who in 2014 felt weak on her right side.
Various tests showed that she's suffered a minor stroke 12 hours after receiving a love bite on the left side of her neck, which resulted in a lesion to her carotid artery and a clot forming.
A hickey was additionally reported to be behind the death of Julio Macias Gonzalez, a 17-year-old boy from Mexico City.
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Doctors believed that the suction from the love bite resulted in a blood clot, which travelled to Julio's brain and caused a stroke.
And a hickey also caused a 44-year-old New Zealand woman to have a non-fatal stroke, according to a 2010 study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal.
Researchers at the time called the chain of events 'a rare phenomenon'.
These cases have recently received new scrutiny following a short TikTok video shared by The Skin Doc, which has garnered close to seven million views.
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The seconds long clip warns: “If you are in the business of showing affection through hickeys, learn to know where the carotid artery is or you may end up learning what happens when somebody has a stroke.”
In a follow-up video, the London-based cosmetic dermatologist advised viewers how to feel for their carotid arteries – these are major blood vessels that provide your brain's blood supply.
"This artery sits in the neck and it's quite superficial," the Skin Doc said. You have two of them, one on each side of the neck.
"A good way to find it would be to find your Adam's apple, go about an inch to the side, use three fingers and feel for the pulse."
According to Penn Medicine, carotid artery disease causes up to one-third of all strokes.
Often, this will be due to plaque buildup slowly squeezing the artery closed and reducing blood flow to the brain, or a clot forming and blocking blood flow.
You're at higher risk of carotid artery disease if:
- you have diabetes
- you have a family history if stroke
- you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high triglycerides in your blood
- you're older
- you smoke, drink or use recreational drugs
- you've experienced trauma to your neck
Doctors have been quick to reassure patients that it's extremely rare for a love bite to result in a stroke.
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WebMD noted that "it takes a very unusual set of circumstances" for this to happen.
"In theory, putting a lot of pressure on the carotid artery might cause a clot to form or shake loose a clot that's already there," it added, but noted that the women in New Zealand and Denmark could have had earlier artery problems that put them at greater risk for a stroke.
Symptoms of a stroke
A stroke is a serious and life-threatening medical condition that happens when blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.
The sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen.
If you suspect that you or someone else is having a stroke, phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance.
You can remember the main symptoms of a stroke with the word FAST:
- Face – the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped
- Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm
- Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake; they may also have problems understanding what you're saying to them
- Time – it's time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms
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