When you get sick, specifically sick with the flu, what do you usually assume will happen? Probably that you will feel unwell for a few days, maybe enough to throw up a few times, and that you will sleep a lot over the next few days while your body fights off the virus. One day you’ll wake up feeling a bit better, with a bit more energy, and before you know it you’ll be back to your normal self. What you might not imagine, is waking up with half of your face paralyzed and unable to move. This is what happens when you develop Bell’s Palsy. Here’s what you should know.
What is Bell’s Palsy?
Bell’s palsy is a condition characterized by temporary facial paralysis, typically affecting the muscles on one side of the face only. This paralysis may cause you to have a lopsided smile or difficulty fully closing one of your eyes. But what exactly is happening to cause this? Bell’s Palsy is attributed to inflammation and swelling of the seventh cranial nerve in your brain. This is the nerve that is responsible for controlling your facial muscles. This is why you are suddenly unable to control or use these muscles on one side of your face. While some cases of Bell’s palsy are linked to viral infections, for example the influenza virus, many instances have no clear cause. These cases are referred to as idiopathic, meaning no clear cause. It can impact individuals of any age, though it’s most commonly seen in those aged 15 to 60. The most common age is around the age of 40.
Is Bell’s Palsy a Serious Condition?
Bell’s Palsy is certainly alarming, especially when you wake up unable to move part of your face. Thankfully, though, it is generally not considered a severe condition. In fact, it often resolves itself on its own. That doesn’t make it any less scary, however, as often it’s symptoms may mimic those of conditions like stroke. Recognizing signs of a stroke, such as one-sided weakness or speech difficulties, is crucial, as prompt medical attention is necessary in such cases. If you are noticing these symptoms in either yourself or a loved one, it is important not to assume it is Bell’s Palsy. If it is a stroke, the earlier you receive medical intervention, the better and less damaging it will be.
Read More: 14 Signs Of A Stroke You Should Never Ignore
How Common is Bell’s Palsy?
Despite many of us having never heard of it, Bell’s palsy is actually relatively common. It affects about 15 to 30 individuals per 100,000 annually. Roughly one in 60 people will experience Bell’s palsy at some point in their lives, making it the most prevalent cause of one-sided facial paralysis. Don’t let that scare you though – knowing the symptoms and what to do about it will get you through, if it ever happens to you.
As already mentioned, the symptoms of Bell’s Palsy can often mimic some of those of a stroke. So if you see things such as the facial drooping coming on, it’s best not to wait to see if other stroke symptoms develop. Go get medical attention right away. Best case scenario it isn’t a stroke, worst case it is but you received medical intervention early, preventing as much damage as possible.
Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy
Signs of Bell’s palsy include sudden onset of facial muscle paralysis, leading to drooping on one side of the face. This will be fairly noticeable, as one side of your face will be dropping and unable to move. Patients may experience difficulties in making facial expressions, such as blinking or smiling, along with symptoms like drooling, dry eyes, facial pain, and headaches.
Warning Signs of Bell’s Palsy
Early indicators of Bell’s palsy may include a slight fever and ear pain. Some people report experiencing similar symptoms to those of the onset of a migraine. These include things like experiencing ‘auras’ and blurry vision. If you notice these, you can go speak with your doctor, however, once Bell’s palsy sets in, there is no preventative intervention available, and the aforementioned symptoms could stem from various causes. While your doctor might not be able to prevent the Bell’s Palsy from fully setting in, they can look into what the underlying causes might be and treat any other infections or viruses that you may have.
Causes of Bell’s Palsy
Bell’s Palsy is named after the doctor who first ever recorded it. While we do understand roughly what causes it, there are many cases in which doctors still don’t understand the triggers. They know that it is caused by inflammation and compression of the seventh cranial nerve. Doctors also know that viral infections, including herpes simplex 1, varicella-zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and more recently, COVID-19, are identified as potential triggers. Additionally, factors such as stress, illnesses, or autoimmune conditions may contribute to the development of Bell’s palsy. Often, however, doctors still have trouble pinning down exactly what causes each individual case.
Risk Factors for Bell’s Palsy
There are certain things that can make your personal risk for developing Bell’s Palsy higher. Certain conditions like diabetes, pregnancy, preeclampsia, obesity, high blood pressure, or prior occurrences of Bell’s palsy may elevate the risk of developing the condition. While living a healthy lifestyle, including proper sleep, nutrition, and exercise habits, helps to lower your risk, it doesn’t exempt you from it altogether.
Diagnosis and Tests
Diagnosing Bell’s palsy is primarily based on symptoms reported by the patient. A physical exam, along with tests like blood work, electromyography (EMG), or imaging scans, may be conducted to rule out other conditions with similar manifestations. This is why it is crucial that you are specific with your doctor about what symptoms you are experiencing. When you start noticing symptoms, write down the date and time you first noticed them and exactly what you were experiencing at that moment. Continue to do this as you notice changes in your symptoms, up until you arrive at the doctor’s office. Don’t leave anything off the table. As always when at the doctor’s, don’t worry about feeling ashamed or unsure whether or not you should tell them about a symptom, habit, or circumstance – they are not there to judge you. If you are not honest with them, they will be less able to help you and more likely to misdiagnose you.
Management and Treatment
As already stated, there isn’t really a treatment, per se, for Bell’s Palsy. This is a condition that takes care of itself over time. Your doctor will instead focus on symptom relief and doing whatever they can to help you recover as quickly and as fully as possible. Approaches may include eye care, corticosteroids to reduce nerve swelling, antiviral medications, and in rare cases, functional facial plastic surgery to correct any lasting facial asymmetry, if there is any. You will likely have regular check-ups with your healthcare provider until they are sure that you are completely back to your regular self. They may also wish to work with you on some of the potential underlying causes of your Bell’s Palsy, primarily focusing on lifestyle habits.
Prevention and Prognosis
There is no known method for preventing Bell’s palsy, as it is primarily associated with viral infections and other risk factors like diabetes or obesity. While we can’t always help if we get sick or not, we can do our best to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes maintaining a healthy weight, sleeping well, staying hydrated, exercising properly, and managing any other conditions, such as diabetes. Bell’s palsy typically resolves within weeks to months, with up to 80% of individuals recovering fully within three months. The length of time is individual and hard to predict. In some cases, the condition may recur later in life, impacting approximately 5% to 10% of those affected.
Living With Bell’s Palsy
Individuals experiencing facial drooping or other symptoms indicative of Bell’s palsy should seek medical attention promptly to receive the necessary interventions for a faster recovery. Follow-up care may be needed if symptoms persist beyond three months or if complications like chronic eye irritation or hearing loss arise. While Bell’s palsy can present distressing symptoms, understanding its causes, recognizing warning signs, and seeking timely medical care can significantly impact the management and recovery process. Listen closely to your doctor and follow their instructions for the best recovery possible. As always, if you feel as though you aren’t receiving the right treatment or that your condition isn’t being taken seriously enough, go seek out another opinion.
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