LIFESTYLE NEWS - Bell's palsy is a condition that affects movement of the muscles in the face due to damage to the nerve which controls them.
Significant damage of this nerve can result in paralysis of the face. Swelling or inflammation of this nerve can also cause Bell's palsy. This condition affects people of any age. Bell's palsy is named after the Scottish anatomist Charles Bell, who was the first to describe the condition.
Symptoms of Bell's palsy may appear following a cold, ear infection, or eye infection. The symptoms usually appear rapidly, and you might notice them upon waking. Bell's palsy is marked by a droopy appearance on one side of the face and the inability to open or close your eye on the affected side.
- Drooling
- Difficulty eating and drinking
- Inability to make facial expressions such as smiling or frowning Facial weakness
- uscle twitches in the face
- Dry eye and mouth
- Headache
- Sensitivity to sound
What causes Bell's palsy?
Although Bell's palsy affects the seventh cranial nerve, experts are not sure why this happens. Many think that a viral infection is the most likely cause of the condition.
In most cases, Bell's palsy symptoms improve without treatment. However, it can take several weeks or months for the muscles in your face to regain their normal strength following an episode of Bell's palsy.
- Medication
- Corticosteroid drugs, which reduce inflammation
- Antiviral medication, if a virus is the cause
- Over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or Paracetamol for mild pain
- Using eye drops and an eye patch to protect the cornea from drying out
- Massaging your face
- Doing physical therapy exercises to stimulate your facial muscles
Complications of Bell's palsy include:
- Excessive drying of the eye, which can lead to the development of eye infections, ulcers, or even blindness
- Damage to the cranial nerve
- Synkinesis, a condition in which moving one body part causes another to move involuntarily. For example, when you smile, your eye may close.
If you develop any of the symptoms of Bell's palsy, seek medical attention immediately. Never self-diagnose Bell's palsy, as the symptoms can mimic other conditions such as a stroke or a brain tumour.
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