# @nickpappasmd on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Daaox-MuCgp
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/67423688-nickpappasmd-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/dd85d79b2f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-05T15:28:09.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Nick Pappas, MD (@nickpappasmd) — https://gondola.cc/nickpappasmd

## Caption

Redheads may require up to 20% more anesthesia than individuals with other hair colors.  This is felt to be due to mutations in the melanocortin receptor (MC1R) gene. 

🧬 The MC1R gene is responsible not only for red hair (& fair skin), but also appears to influence pain perception and how the body responds to pain medications and anesthetics. 

👉 So if you’re a healthcare provider and you are taking care of a patient with red hair, just know that you may have to give them more pain medication than individuals with other hair colors.

📚 For those interested, here is a study discussing redheads and anesthesia in more detail: 

Anesthetic requirement is increased in redheads
Edwin B Liem et al. Anesthesiology. 2004 Aug. PMID: 15277908.

🚨Comment NEWSLETTER and I’ll send you a link to my free weekly newsletter with other interesting health information mixed with non-cringey medical humor.

#surgery #redhead #ginger #anesthesia #medicalstudent

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 352
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 42

## Tags

surgery, redhead, ginger, anesthesia, medicalstudent

---
Copyright (c) Gondola