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Bell’s Palsy

Information about Bell’s Palsy

We Have to Know about the Bell’S Palsy

  • It is weakness or paralysis of the muscles that control expression on one side of your face
  • The disorder results from damage to one of a pair of facial nerves

Could be dangerous, if the answer is YES for any one of the following questions

  • Any changes in the facial expression?

Causes of Bell’s Palsy

  • Viral infection, most commonly by the herpes simplex virus
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Epstein-Barr virus
  • Lyme disease

Do’s and Don’ts of Bell’s Palsy

  • Put artificial tear drops or lubricating drops to prevent drying
  • Protect eye from injury as blink reflex is abnormal
  • Facial exercises
  • Good food for good immunity

Signs & Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy

  • Sudden onset of paralysis on one side of your face, making it difficult to smile or close your eye on the affected side
  • Facial droop and difficulty with facial expressions
  • Pain behind or in front of your ear on the affected side
  • Sounds that seem louder on the affected side
  • Pain, usually in the ear on the affected side
  • A headache
  • Loss of taste on the front portion of your tongue
  • Changes in the number of tears and saliva your body produces

Medical advice for Bell’s Palsy

  • When the above  symptoms increase

Risk factors of Bell’s Palsy

  • Diabetes
  • Flu
  • Lyme disease
  • Common cold
  • HIV

Treatment for Bell’s Palsy

  • The disorder results from damage to one of a pair of facial nerves that runs beneath each ear to the muscles in your face

Self-care for Bell’s Palsy

  • You’ll need to protect your eye from damage to its outer layer (cornea) because of the absence of blinking on the side of your face with weakness. An excessively dry eye can result in clouding of the cornea and lead to a corneal ulcer, which can interfere with vision. You can protect your eye with artificial tears, an eye patch or a transparent eye shield attached to your face with tape
  • You might also try applying moist heat to the affected side of your face
  • Facial massage may help prevent permanent contractures of the paralyzed muscles before recovery takes place

Investigations for Bell’s Palsy

  • MRI or computed tomography (CT)
  • Electromyography (EMG)
Medical advice for Bell’S Palsy
      Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy