Who is most likely to get Bell's palsy?

Bell's palsy can strike anyone at any age. It occurs most often in pregnant women, and people who have diabetes, influenza, a cold, or another upper respiratory ailment. Bell's palsy affects men and woman equally. It is less common before age 15 or after age 60.

Who is at risk for Bell's palsy?

It can affect anyone of any gender and age, but its incidence seems to be highest in those in the 15- to 45-year-old age group. Risk factors for Bell's palsy include pregnancy, preeclampsia, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and upper respiratory ailments.

What is the main cause of Bell's palsy?

Experts think it's caused by swelling and inflammation of the nerve that controls the muscles on one side of the face. It could be caused by a reaction that occurs after a viral infection. Symptoms usually start to improve within a few weeks, with complete recovery in about six months.

How can you prevent Bell's palsy?

Currently, there isn't any known way to prevent Bell's palsy.

Can stress cause Bell's palsy?

Bell's Palsy is a neurological condition in which the seventh facial nerve is not working properly, causing paralysis of one side of your face. Most people don't know that Bell's Palsy is most often brought on by stress and over use of your brain.

Bell's palsy: One Loyola patient's story

Is Bell's palsy hereditary?

A family history of Bell palsy has been reported in approximately 4% of cases. Inheritance in such cases may be autosomal dominant with low penetration; however, which predisposing factors are inherited is unclear.

What causes Bell's palsy in females?

What causes Bell's palsy? Bell's palsy occurs when the seventh cranial nerve becomes swollen or compressed, resulting in facial weakness or paralysis. The exact cause of this nerve damage is unknown, but many medical researchers believe it's most likely triggered by a viral infection.

Does caffeine affect Bell's palsy?

Thus, the possible protective effect of caffeine consumption on the risk of Bell's palsy could mediate the negative association between Bell's palsy and alcohol consumption in this study.

What is the fastest way to get rid of Bell's palsy?

Immediate Bell's Palsy Treatment

After it's been determined that Bell's palsy is causing the facial paralysis, the doctor needs to prescribe a high dose of steroids as well as an anti-viral medication such as Valtrex.

What foods should you avoid with Bell's palsy?

Avoid stringy, chewy foods and those with pips, skins, shells, or husks, (e.g. raw tomatoes, lettuce, chewy meats, sweet corn, peas, baked beans). You may find rice and dry, crumbly foods difficult and they can cause coughing.

Is Bell's palsy fatal?

Bell's palsy itself is not life threatening and is rarely serious. However, Bell's palsy symptoms can be very similar to stroke. Any time you experience facial weakness, especially on one side, you should seek immediate medical care (call 911).

How quickly does Bell's palsy start?

Bell's palsy is an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis. It begins suddenly and worsens over 48 hours. This condition results from damage to the facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve). Pain and discomfort usually occur on one side of the face or head.

What autoimmune diseases cause Bell's palsy?

Bell's palsy may be an autoimmune demyelinating cranial neuritis, and in most cases, it is a mononeuritic variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a neurologic disorder with recognised cell-mediated immunity against peripheral nerve myelin antigens.

Can Covid 19 cause Bell's palsy?

But, COVID-19 can also present with other central nervous system manifestations such as stroke, encephalo-myelitis, or peripheral nervous manifestations such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and Bell's palsy.

Is Bell's palsy only on one side?

It affects only one side of the face at a time, causing it to droop or become stiff on that side. It's caused by some kind of trauma to the seventh cranial nerve. This is also called the “facial nerve.” Bell's palsy can happen to anyone.

What viral infection causes Bell's palsy?

Bell's palsy is caused by an inflammation of the facial nerve. This inflammation may be caused by a virus. There is some evidence that the virus is often herpes simplex virus (HSV), the same virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes.

What vitamins are good for Bell's palsy?

Vitamin B12 injections have been shown to be beneficial for people with Bell's palsy. More. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause nerve degeneration, and both oral and injected vitamin B12 have been used to treat many types of nerve disorders.

What foods help with Bell's palsy?

It is recommended to avoid hard foods, sticky and chewy foods. Include lot of good protein foods which are soft and easy to eat- like boiled egg whites, moong khichdi, paneer, curd, peas, dal soups. Stay well hydrated and follow doctors advice for facial exercises.

Can thyroid cause Bell's palsy?

Peripheral, unilateral facial palsy may be Bell's palsy but it could also be the first presentation of an underlying multisystem disorder. 1 Very few case reports have found facial palsy to be associated with hypothyroidism in adults.

Is Bell's palsy related to Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Bell's palsy may be an autoimmune demyelinating cranial neuritis, and in most cases, it is a mononeuritic variant of Guillain–Barré syndrome, a neurologic disorder with recognised cell-mediated immunity against peripheral nerve myelin antigens.

Is Bell's palsy a mini stroke?

Bell's palsy is a temporary paralysis of the facial muscles, causing drooping and weakness on one side of the face, and is sometimes mistaken for a stroke. While alarming, Bell's palsy is usually not permanent and resolves itself in two weeks to six months, depending on the severity.

Does Bell's palsy affect your brain?

In summary, this study provided significant evidence for abnormal brain activity between patients with early left and right Bell's palsy. In addition, the severities of the disease were closely associated with abnormal fALFF values in certain brain regions.

Can Bell's Palsy affect your memory?

Bell's palsy has nothing to do with memory. It has nothing to do with the brain. Memory lapses are common at older ages. They occur at younger ages, too, but younger people don't immediately think they are headed for Alzheimer's disease; older people do.

Does rest help Bell's palsy?

When first diagnosed with Bell's palsy you should understand that you are unwell. It is important to get plenty of rest even if you have no other symptoms. You should also maintain a healthy diet. If you are at work or school, it may be necessary to take some time to recover.