Bell's Palsy

What is Bell's palsy?
Bell’s palsy is an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis that begins suddenly and worsens over three to five days. This condition results from damage to the 7th (facial) cranial nerve, and may be accompanied by pain or discomfort on one side of the face and head.

Bell’s palsy strikes men and woman equally, usually between the ages of 15 and 60. This nerve disorder afflicts approximately 40,000 Americans each year, and is more often seen in pregnant women, persons with diabetes, influenza, a cold, or other respiratory ailment.

It is named for Sir Charles Bell, a Scottish surgeon and physiologist, for his work on facial palsy. In 1821, he demonstrated that the facial nerve was a separate nerve.

What causes Bell's palsy?
A specific cause of Bell's palsy is unknown, however, it has been suggested that the disorder may be inherited. It also may be associated with the following:

• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• trauma
• toxins
• Lyme disease
• Guillain-Barr© syndrome
• sarcoidosis
• myasthenia gravis
• infection

What are the symptoms of Bell's palsy?
The following are the most common symptoms of Bell's palsy. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• disordered movement of the muscles that control facial expressions such as smiling, squinting, blinking, or closing the eyelid
  
  
• loss of feeling in the face
  
  
• headache
  
  
• tearing
  
  
• drooling
  
  
• loss of the sense of taste on the front two-thirds of the tongue
  
  
• hypersensitivity to sound in the affected ear
  
  
• inability to close the eye on the affected side of the face

The symptoms of Bell's palsy may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

Treatment for Bell's palsy:
Specific treatment for Bell's palsy will be determined by your physician based on:

• your age, overall health, and medical history
• extent of the disease
• your tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
• expectations for the course of the disease
• your opinion or preference

The goal of treatment for Bell's palsy is to protect the patient's eyes from drying during the nighttime. The use of eye drops during the day and ointment at bedtime helps to protect the cornea. Other treatments may include:

• medication (to reduce inflammation)
• analgesics (to relieve pain)

The majority of people with Bell's palsy recover full facial strength and expression, usually over weeks to months.