The face conveys many emotions. Just by looking someone in the face you can tell if they are sad, upset, in love, worried, disoriented, confused, etc. It is incredible all the information it is capable of transmitting. On the other hand, our face is also like a cover letter. It is the door that can open a lot of opportunities in different areas of our lives. For example, at work, love, friendships, among others. Hence the importance of being attentive to convey what we really feel or think, since we could send the wrong message. In general, those who tend to take more care of their face are women. They take the time to moisturize their skin, apply some sunscreen, correct imperfections and highlight their attributes with a little makeup. This makes them project a good image and gives you a lot of security when interacting with other people. However, there are situations in life that can make everything change, such as a disease, which are also usually reflected in the face, one of them is Bell’s palsy, also known as facial paralysis, which is manifested by a sudden weakness in the facial muscles.
You probably know someone who, at some point in their life, has suffered from facial paralysis, do you know why? What are its symptoms? Knowing this information will help you stay on top of your body’s red flags, and be able to get down to business before it’s too late. However, this does not mean that you will be exempt from it happening to you. But, if so, you will be able to know what you can do to get ahead and recover the natural expression of your face.
Instructions for knowing the causes of facial paralysis
s I mentioned earlier, facial paralysis includes a sudden weakness in the muscles of the face, which causes it to look droopy. In fact, the smile is only drawn on one side, and usually the eye does not close completely. This can happen to anyone regardless of age, sex, race or nationality. In most cases, this muscle weakness is temporary. Symptoms tend to improve within a few weeks and recovery is complete after about 6 months. It is rare for some symptoms to persist for life or recur. It is not known exactly what causes it. But it’s thought to happen because the nerve, which controls the muscles on one side of the face, becomes inflamed. Although it could also be a reaction after having gone through a viral process.
Viruses that have been linked to facial paralysis are: Cold sores and genital sores. Chickenpox and shingles. Infectious mononucleosis. Diseases at the respiratory level. The blonde. Mumps. Influenza B or common flu. Disease of the hands, feet and mouth. But how do these viruses influence to generate facial paralysis? In this case, the nerve that is responsible for keeping the facial muscles under control, passes through a narrow duct formed by bone, which crosses the face. During Bell’s palsy, this nerve becomes inflamed as a result of the viral infection. This same nerve also influences tearing, salivation and the sense of taste. It also affects a tiny bone inside the ear.
What do you need to know the causes of facial paralysis?
It’s important to be aware that symptoms of facial paralysis can occur overnight, including: A sudden slight weakness that increases until it reaches total paralysis on one side of the face. This can happen in as little as a few days or even hours. The drooping of one side of the face. Difficulty making facial expressions as common as closing the eye or smiling. Pain in the jaw or behind the ear that is on the affected side. A noticeable increase in sensitivity to sound, on the affected side. Severe headaches. Loss of sense of taste. Excessive production of tears and saliva or a shortage of tears. Although it is a real possibility, very rarely, facial paralysis can affect the nerves that are on both sides of the face, causing that, as expected, the symptoms intensify and manifest on both sides of the face. In case you have some of these symptoms or even any type of paralysis, it is necessary that you go to the doctor as soon as possible, since it could be a stroke, which produces symptoms very similar to those of Bell’s palsy.
Tips to know the causes of facial paralysis
With regard to treatment, which must be followed for full recovery, this includes the following: Corticosteroids. These are very strong and effective anti-inflammatory agents, which usually have a better effect if they are started within a few days of symptoms. In combination with steroids are considered benefits for some patients with facial paralysis. However, it should be noted that this fact has not yet been verified. Physiotherapy. When the muscles are paralyzed, they usually shrink or shorten, which causes permanent contractures. In this case, a physical therapist can teach you massage techniques and other exercises to get your muscles in your face from happening again. Surgery. A few years ago, surgery was used to relieve pressure on the facial nerve. This was done by opening the bony passage through which the nerve crosses. However, today, this surgery is not recommended, since the risks, related to this decompression surgery, include facial nerve injury and permanent hearing loss. Now that you know more about facial paralysis, you have the necessary tools to act in time and recover the expression of your face and the mobility of the muscles of your face.