Watchout for Bell's Palsy

Bell's Palsy comes from a 19th-century physician named Sir Charles Bell who first to describe this condition with facial nerve disorders. This disease attacks the nervous faces No.7 (Carnial Nerve VII) which can cause facial paralysis on one side, left or right side of the face. Where the nerve was swollen so it can not function properly.

General symptoms of Bell's Palsy:

• Face to the right / left stiffen suddenly, usually when waking up
• Mouth in which side of face was attacked is not movable
• Affected eye can not be closed / can not be winked and become dry
• Unable to blow and it's hard to drink / gargle
• It will become more difficult to eat something, because the face can not movable
• When trying to smile / laugh, mouth crooked on one side and not symmetrical
• Eyebrows in which side the face is attacked can not be raised

Pregnant women are 3x potentially affected to the Bell's Palsy. Usually in the third trimester of pregnancy or early delivery. One theory of the causes of pregnant women affected by Bell's Palsy is an increase in fluid in pregnant women which cause swelling of the facial nerve which leads to the seventh nerve.

In general, Bell's Palsy can be caused by herpes simplex virus infection and there is also a hit due to the cold wind as air conditioning, fan, sleeping on the floor, motorcyclists without helmets, where the wind is strike the face continuously.

For some patients, the disease will heal by itself. But it will be better to visit Neurologist at maximum 2 day after affected. Prenidson and antiviral drug for 7 days after the attack will be effective for patients with Bell's palsy. After that physiotherapy can be done on the face behind the ear with warm attacked and given a facial massage electric shock on a rigid. Alternative therapy is acupuncture.

Treatment for pregnant women suffering from Bell's Palsy is usually not recommended to give antiviral drugs and steroids. Because in fact Bell's Palsy can be cured by itself. Yet, still it is better continue to be monitored.

Bell's Palsy can be scary because the symptoms are similar to stroke. To distinguish them, usually a stroke causing paralysis on the other limbs such as hands and feet, accompanied by symptoms of headache, fainting, difficulty speaking, and usually tongue will twist when out warded.