A condition called Bell's palsy is characterized by temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face. It was first described in 1821 by Sir Charles Bell, a Scottish surgeon. There are about 40,000 cases of Bell's palsy in the United States every year, but the condition is more prevalent among people between 15 and 60. This blog post discusses Bell's palsy's causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
The exact cause of Bell's palsy is unknown, but it is believed to be caused by inflammation or compression of the facial nerve, which controls the movement and sensation of muscles and skin on one side of the face. Besides sending signals for taste, saliva production, tears, and ear function, the facial nerve also transmits signals for taste, saliva production, tear production, and ear function. Inflammation or compression of the facial nerve may result from a number of factors, including:
Virus infections: These are infections caused by viruses that can affect the nervous system, including herpes simplex (which causes cold sores or genital herpes), varicella-zoster (which causes chickenpox or shingles), Epstein-Barr (which causes mononucleosis or glandular fever), and cytomegalovirus (which usually doesn't cause symptoms).
Infections caused by bacteria can affect the ear, nose, throat, or sinuses, such as otitis media (middle ear infection), sinusitis (sinus infection), or mastoiditis (infection of the mastoid bone behind the ear).
These are illnesses in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues and organs, such as multiple sclerosis (which affects the brain and spinal cord), sarcoidosis (which causes inflammation in various organs), or Guillain-Barré syndrome (which affects the peripheral nerves).
An injury or damage to the head or face, such as a fracture, laceration, surgery, or dental procedure, can affect the facial nerve.
Tumors: These are abnormal growths of cells that can compress or invade the facial nerve, such as an acoustic neuroma (a benign tumor of the nerve connecting the ear to the brain), a parotid gland tumor (a benign tumor of the salivary gland near the ear), or a meningioma (a benign tumor of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord).
Symptoms of Bell's palsy vary depending on the severity and extent of nerve damage. They often appear suddenly and peak within 48 hours. They can last from a few weeks to several months.
An individual with facial drooping may experience difficulty closing or opening one eye, raising one eyebrow, smiling, frowning, or puckering one lip as a result of weakness or paralysis of their facial muscles. It may affect the forehead, eyebrow, eyelid, cheek, mouth, or chin.
There may be numbness on one side of the face due to damage to the sensory fibers of the facial nerve. It may affect the forehead, eyelid, cheek, nose, mouth, or chin.
Pain on one side of the face caused by irritation or inflammation of the facial nerve. It can be triggered by touch, cold, or movement.
Damage to the taste fibers of the facial nerve affects the ability to detect sweet, sour, salty, or bitter tastes on one side of the tongue.
It can cause dryness, irritation, redness, or infection of the eye due to damage to the tear fibers of the facial nerve on one side of the eye.
It may cause dryness, difficulty swallowing, bad breath, or tooth decay if the salivary fibers of the facial nerve are damaged.
Damage to the ear fibers of the facial nerve can result in hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), or vertigo (dizziness) on one side of the ear.
Doctors will ask about your medical history, family history, symptoms, and possible triggers in order to diagnose Bell's palsy. Additionally, the doctor will examine your face for signs of paralysis or weakness. The doctor may also order some tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. Some of the tests include:
The nerve conduction study measures the speed and strength of electrical signals traveling along the facial nerves. An electrode is attached to your face and mild electric shocks are given to stimulate the nerve. Nerve damage or compression may result in a slower or weaker response.
In Electromyography, fine needles are inserted into your facial muscles and signals are recorded on a machine as they contract or relax. This test measures the electrical activity of your facial muscles when they contract or relax. It is possible that nerve damage or paralysis may be caused by reduced or absent activity.
To create images of your head and neck, imaging tests use X-rays, ultrasounds, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, or positron emission tomography (PET). A facial nerve can be affected by infection, inflammation, trauma, tumor, or stroke, which can be detected with these tests.
Bell's palsy can be treated in a variety of ways depending on its cause, severity, and your preferences and goals.
Medications: These are medications that can reduce inflammation, pain, or infection in the facial nerve or prevent complications such as dry eyes and mouth. The most common are corticosteroids, such as prednisone and methylprednisolone; antivirals, including acyclovir and valacyclovir; analgesics, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen; and artificial tears and saliva.
The objective of physical therapy is to improve the function and appearance of facial muscles and prevent stiffness or contracture of them through exercises, massage, heat, cold, or electrical stimulation. Additionally, you may be taught how to mimic the movements of your affected muscles with your unaffected muscles using facial retraining, which is a technique.
For people who have severe or permanent facial nerve damage or who have cosmetic concerns, surgery is an option. To restore movement and sensation to the face, it involves repairing or grafting the facial nerve or transferring muscles or nerves from elsewhere in the body.
Even though Bell's palsy cannot be completely prevented, there are some steps that can be taken to reduce the risk or improve the prognosis. These steps include:
Avoiding or limiting exposure to UV radiation from the sun or artificial sources, such as tanning beds or lamps, is an important part of protecting yourself from sun exposure. Wearing protective clothing, such as hats, sunglasses, or long sleeves; applying sunscreen that has a sun protection factor of at least 15, finding shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; and avoiding sunburns are all part of this strategy.
To prevent infection or irritation of the skin or mucous membranes, keep your face clean and dry. It is important to wash your face twice a day with warm water and mild soap, dry it thoroughly after washing, avoid harsh or perfumed products that might irritate your skin, and change your pillowcase regularly.
In order to manage stress, you must find healthy ways to relax your mind and body as well as cope with it. A few examples include meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, or other relaxation techniques; engaging in hobbies and activities you enjoy; seeking support from family, friends, or professionals; and staying away from drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
Managing underlying conditions: This involves treating any medical conditions that may affect your immune or nervous systems, such as diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, autoimmune diseases, infections, allergies, or tumors. Medication, lifestyle changes, or surgery may be required.
During Bell's palsy, muscles on one side of the face become temporarily weak or paralyzed. Sir Charles Bell, a Scottish surgeon, first described it in 1821. In the United States, Bell's palsy affects about 40,000 people every year. It is more common in people between the ages of 15 and 60 years old, but it can occur at any age. The facial nerve, the nerve that controls the movement and sensation of the muscles and skin on one side of the face, is believed to be inflamed or compressed in Bell's palsy. Inflammation or compression of the facial nerve can be triggered by a variety of factors, including viruses, bacteria, autoimmune diseases, trauma, or tumors.
