Why bells palsy

It is important to rule out these other potential causes. Bell's palsy is diagnosed in a number of different ways, including clinical examination. The person is typically asked to raise their eyebrows, close their eyes and smile.

If the person has Bell's palsy, their eyebrows will rise asymmetrically, they won't be able to close the affected eye and one side of the mouth will droop. However, the remaining 10 per cent will experience some degree of permanent paralysis.

Older people with pre-existing high blood pressure are at greater risk of this complication. Treatment options can include: artificial tears to keep the affected eye lubricated a patch to protect the affected eye using tape to close the affected eyelid at night medications such as corticosteroids to help reduce the swelling of the facial nerve pain-relieving medications massage facial exercises botox injections may be useful if, during nerve recovery, unexpected involuntary movements of the face occur surgery, although this is an unusual form of treatment and rarely effective.

This produces unusual neurologic pathways. When voluntary movements are initiated, they are accompanied by involuntary movements such as eye closure, with lip pursing or mouth grimacing that occurs during blinking of the eye.

Where to get help Your doctor Things to remember Bell's palsy is a paralysis or weakness of the muscles on one side of the face. The cause is unknown, although infection or autoimmune responses are suspected.

The majority of people with Bell's palsy, around 90 per cent, will recover completely with time. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. However, your healthcare provider may order tests to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms and to determine the extent of nerve involvement or damage.

These tests may include:. Otherwise, the symptoms are treated as needed. One uniformly recommended treatment for Bell's palsy is protecting the eye from drying at night or while working at a computer.

Eye care may include eye drops during the day, ointment at bedtime, or a moisture chamber at night. This helps protect the cornea from being scratched, which is crucial to the management of Bell's palsy.

Your healthcare provider will prescribe other treatment for your condition based on the severity of your symptoms and your health history. Other treatment options include:. Some people may choose to use alternative therapies in the treatment of Bell's palsy, but there is no proof they make a difference in recovery. Such treatment may include:. It is, therefore, important to protect the eye from drying at night or while working at a computer.

This helps protect the cornea from being scratched. It is important, however, to take medicines as directed. In: Conn's Current Therapy Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed Feb. Bell palsy. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; Ferri FF.

In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Bell's palsy fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Accessed Jan. Ronthal M. Bell's palsy: Pathogenesis, clinical features, and diagnosis in adults. Bell's palsy: Prognosis and treatment in adults. Most people make a full recovery within 9 months, but it can take longer. In a small number of cases, the facial weakness can be permanent. Go back to see a GP if there are no signs of improvement after 3 weeks.

Some cases might need to be treated with surgery. Living with Bell's palsy can make you feel depressed, stressed or anxious. Speak to a GP if it's affecting your mental health.