About Bell’s Palsy
Causes | Symptoms | Risk-Factors | What is Vedic Relief?
The ability to smile, wink, blink, or frown. We take these things for granted, but when a nasty condition known as Bell’s palsy hits you unexpectedly , these abilities can disappear virtually overnight.
What Is Bell’s Palsy?
Named after Scottish anatomist Charles Bell, who first described it, Bell’s palsy is a non-specific diagnosis given to facial paralysis when all of the specific causes such as a brain tumor, Lyme Disease, or stroke have been ruled out. In most cases the paralysis affects one side of the face, giving it slack muscle tone and a characteristic droop along the eye and mouth.
Doctors are not certain what the exact causes of Bell’s palsy are, but they can all agree that it is important to treat each and every possible underlying causes to ensure a complete and speedy recovery.
Learn more about the potential causes of Bell’s palsy
Bell’s palsy is far more common than most people think.
Worldwide, Bell’s palsy affects nearly one in every five thousand people, and almost 40,000 Americans are affected with the disorder annually. There is no difference in occurrence between males and females. Bell’s palsy can happen at almost any age, with the majority of suffers experiencing it between the ages of fifteen to sixty. Unfortunately, there are some groups at greater risk for developing Bell’s palsy.
Find out if you’re in one of the groups at greater risk of developing Bell’s palsy.
Clearing Up Myths About Bell’s palsy
Not all people who suffer from facial paralysis have Bell’s palsy, but everyone who has Bell’s palsy will be afflicted by some form of limited facial paralysis. It’s important that we separate fact from fiction to help uncover the truth about what causes Bell’s palsy. Only then can proper treatment be administered.
Compare Bell’s palsy myths to Bell’s palsy facts
Choosing the right Bell’s palsy treatment
Approximately 50% of Bell’s palsy cases clear up on their own within 1 month or less. For those individuals that do not find themselves so lucky, it’s important to begin a treatment regiment immediately to avoid potential long term nerve damage and prolonged facial paralysis. With so many treatment options currently available, it’s important to understand the positive and negative benefits of each and to choose the one that best suits you.
Learn more about the different Bell’s palsy treatment options that are currently available