Bell’s Palsy is a neurological disorder where the patient suffers weakness or paralysis on one side of the face. The leading cause of Bell’s Palsy is dysfunction of the cranial nerve VII. This nerve establishes a connection between the brain and the muscles controlling facial expressions.
In the USA, almost 40,000 people are affected by Bell’s Palsy annually. This neurological disorder can impact people of all age groups and all genders. However, people in the age group of 15-45 years old are most vulnerable. This blog explores the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for Bell’s Palsy.
Bell’s Palsy, also called acute peripheral facial palsy, is a nerve disorder with sudden weakness in facial muscles on one side. The cause of this problem remains unknown to date. The weirdest thing is that the problem might start abruptly and worsen in 48 hours. Damage to the 7th cranial nerve often leads to facial paralysis.
People suffering from Bell’s Palsy often have discomfort and pain on one side of the head or face. The only point of relief is that in the majority of cases, the facial weakness or paralysis is temporary; it improves significantly over weeks. However, some people experience symptoms throughout life.
People with Bell’s Palsy often have half of their face drooping, one-sided smiles, and the eye on the paralyzed side resists closing.
Before discussing Bell’s Palsy treatment modes, you must know the causes of the neurological disorder. Scientists presume that viral infections often trigger inflammation of the 7th cranial nerve, causing this problem. Some of the viruses which might cause this neurological disorder are:
A weak immune system might also act as a trigger for Bell’s Palsy. Some triggers include:
Bell’s Palsy symptoms vary from one individual to another. Some symptoms are severe, leading to complete facial paralysis; for others, it might be mild facial weakness. The appearance of symptoms is abrupt and sudden. Here are the typical symptoms of a Bell’s Palsy patient:
Certain conditions aggravate the risks of suffering from Bell Palsy. These risk factors are as follows:
Bell’s Palsy eye treatment starts after the diagnosis of the issue. Initially, the health care professional will check the patient entirely and look at the symptoms. The doctor asks about the onset of the signs and if they change with time. During the physical examination, the doctor asks to move the facial muscles somehow.
Though Bell’s Palsy can be diagnosed with physical check-ups and symptoms only, many doctors recommend specific tests to ensure that facial paralysis is not due to other medical conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis, sarcoidosis, etc. The doctor might recommend blood tests, electromyography (EMG), CT scans, MRI, and lumbar puncture tests.
In most cases, Bell’s Palsy symptoms improve with time and do not need any treatment. However, doctors recommend specific therapies for quicker recovery and relief.
Oral corticosteroids: It helps decrease nerve inflammation, leading to faster facial movements.
Summing it up.
Patients with Bell’s Palsy are often embarrassed about their appearance. With proper care, treatment, and therapy, the symptoms reduce and improve with time. Make sure that you find the best facial paralysis treatment near me soon so symptoms don’t aggravate.
Remagin is one of the best places for Bell’s Palsy treatment near me. The clinic offers high-quality services in ophthalmology and oculofacial plastic surgery under the guidance of able medical professionals. Contact us today or call us at (407) 704-3937.
The muscles that are affected by Bell’s Palsy include orbicularis oculi, frontalis, buccinator, orbicularis oris, and platysma.
When the facial nerve, the 7th cranial nerve, is damaged, it leads to Bell’s Palsy.
Currently, there is no cure for Bell’s Palsy. This neurological disorder is not permanent, and symptoms reduce within a few months. In rare cases, the symptoms remain as they are, and no improvements exist.
Certain viruses are suspected to be linked to Bell’s Palsy. Some of them include Varicella-Zoster virus (causing shingles and chickenpox), Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis), Rubella (German measles), Herpes Simplex 1 (virus causing mouth infections like cold sores and genital herpes), etc.
