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What is Bell's Palsy
Bell's Palsy is a condition which causes a temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles in the face. It can occur when the nerve that controls your facial muscles becomes inflamed, swollen or compresed.
The condition causes one side of your face to droop or become stiff. You may have difficulty smiling or closing your eyes on the affective side. In most cases, Bell's palsy is temporary and symptoms go away after a few weeks.
Although Bell's palsy can occur at any age, the condition is more common among age 16 and 60. Bell's palsy is named after the scottish anatomist Charles Bell, who was the first to describe the condition.
What are symptoms of Bell's Palsy?
The symptoms of Bell's palsy can develop after one to two weeks after you have a cold, ear infection or eye infection. They usually appear abruptly, and you may notice them when you wake up in the morning or when you try to eat or drink.
Bell's palsy is marked by a droopy appearance on one side of the face and the inability to open or close the eye on the affected side. In rare cases, Bell's palsy my affect bot sides of the face.
Other signs and symptoms of Bell's palsy include:
drooling
difficulty eating and drinking
an inability to make facial expression, such as smiling and frowning
facial weakness
muscle twitches in the face
dry eye and mouth
headache
sensitivity to sound
irritation in the eye on the affected side
Call your doctor immediately if you develop any of these symptoms. You should never self-diagnose Bell's palsy. The symptoms can be similar to those of the other serious condition, such as stroke and brain tumor.
What causes Bell's palsy?
Bell's palsy occurs when the seventh cranial nerve becomes swollen or compressed, resulting in facial weakness or paralysis. The exact cause of this damage is unknown, but many medical researchers believe it's triggered by a viral infection.
The viruses/bacteria that have been linked to the development of Bell's palsy include:
herpes simplex, which causes cold soars and genetal herpes.
H.I.V which damages the immune system.
sarcoidosis, which causes organ inflammation
herpes zoster virus, which chickenpox and shingle
Epstein-Bar virus, which causes mononucleosis
Lyme diseases, which is a bacterial infection cause by inffected ticks
What are the risk factors of Bell's palsy?
Your risk of deveveloping Bell's palsy increases if you're:
are pregnant
have diabetes
have a lung infection
have a family history of the disease
How is Bell's palsy diagnose?
Your doctor first will perform physical examination to determine the extent of the weakness in your facial muscles. They'll also also ask you questions about your symptoms, including when they occured or when you first notice them.
Your doctor can also use a variety of test to make your Bell's palsy diagnosis. These test may include blood tests to check the pressence of bacterial or viral infection. Your doctor might use an MRI or CT scan to check the nerves in your face.
How is Bell's palsy treated?
In most cases, Bell's palsy improve without treatment. However, it can take several weeks or months for the muscles in your face to regain their normal strenght.
The following treatments may help in your recovery
Medication
Corticosteriod drugs, which reduce inflammation
Antiviral or antibacterial medication, which may be prescribed if a virus or bacteria caused your Bell's palsy
Over- the-counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, which can help relieve mild pain
Eye drops
Home treatment
An eye patch(if your eye dry)
A warm, moist towel over your face to relieve the pain
Facial massage
Physical theraphy exercise to stimulate your facial muscles
What are the potential complications of Bell's palsy?
Most people who have an episode of Bell's palsy will completely recover without complication. However, complications may occur in severe case of Bell's palsy. These includes:
You may have damaga to the seventh cranial nerve. This nerve controls the facial muscles.
You may have excessive dryness in your eye . Which can lead to eye infections, ulcers, or even blindness.
You may have synkinesis, a condition which moving one body part causes to move involuntarily. For example, your eye may close when you smile.
What is the long term outlook for people with Bell's palsy?
The outlook for people with Bell's palsy may good. Recovery time may vary depending on the severity of nerve damage. In general, however, people can see an improvement for two weeks after the initial onset of the symptoms. Most completely recover for 3 to 6 months, but it may be longer to the people with more severe cases of Bell's palsy. In rare cases, symptoms may continue to return or maybe permanent.
Call your doctor right away if your showing one of this signs of Bell's palsy. Prompt treatment can speed up your recovery time and prevent any complications.
