Bell's Palsy - How Serious A Condition

10/8/21, 12:20 PM Bell’s Palsy: How Serious a Condition?
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How Serious a Condition is Bell’s Palsy?

Written by Gillian Mohney — Updated on August 8, 2017
The ailment can affect 1 in 60 people during their lifetime. Actress

Angelina Jolie developed Bell’s Palsy last year after separating from Brad
Pitt.
There apparently was a reason Angelina Jolie, one of the most famous
women in the world, stayed out of sight for a time last year.
The actress had developed a condition called Bell’s palsy, which results in
facial paralysis.
Jolie made the surprise announcement last week that she had developed
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“Sometimes
ACCEPT women in families put themselves last,” Jolie told Vanity Fair,
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“until it manifests itself in their own health.”

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By sharing her story, Jolie spotlighted a condition that affects about 1 in

60 people during their lifetime.
Here’s key information on the condition and what doctors have to say
about how to cure it.
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What causes Bell’s palsy?

Bell’s palsy is a form of facial paralysis that results from trauma or
damaged facial nerves.
“The most commonly affected muscles are closure of the eye and half the
smile so the patient is unable to close their eye or smile on half their
face,” said Dr. David Simpson, director of the neuromuscular division in
the Department of Neurology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. “They
end up looking like someone with a crooked face.”
A facial nerve, called the 7th cranial nerve, travels through a narrow, bony
canal in the skull. The nerve controls sensation and helps move tiny
muscles in the face.
If the nerve is damaged and stops functioning it can cause the face to
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droop. It can also affect tear ducts and taste sensations from the tongue.
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It was named after the Scottish surgeon Sir Charles Bell, who figured out
what the facial nerve 
A D V E R Tdid
I S E M Eand
NT how it was connected to facial paralysis.
Currently, doctors believe viral infections can kick-start inflammation and

cause the nerve to swell and become damaged.
But, Bell’s palsy has also been associated with headaches, chronic middle
ear infections, high blood pressure, diabetes, tumors, and Lyme disease,
among other things, according to the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)  .
Jolie told Vanity Fair that she developed hypertension, (high blood
pressure) last year, and also mentioned stress.
Simpson said stress is associated with the condition, but it’s not clear that
it can actually cause the condition to develop or if it’s a coincidence.
Usually people with the condition start to recover within two weeks, with
full normal function returning three to six months later, according to the
NINDS.
For people who have long-term symptoms other issues like spasms can
develop. In rare cases, people can develop a condition called synkinesis,
where facial muscles may move in tandem. For example, a person may
smile and blink at the same time involuntarily.
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How is it treated?
The standard treatment for Bell’s palsy is steroids and antiviral 

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medication, according to Simpson.
“Those two medicines are best instituted in the first couple of days of the
Bell’s palsy and given for fairly short periods for seven to 10 days,” said
Simpson.
Physical therapy can also be done to try and minimize the duration of the
facial paralysis.
Jolie told the magazine that she credited acupuncture with helping her
recover.
Simpson said there isn’t a lot of solid evidence on how effective

acupuncture is at diminishing symptoms.
“There have been some research studies, and there is some relatively
weak evidence that acupuncture may help,” Simpson said.
One published analysis  examined 14 studies that investigated

acupuncture treatment for Bell’s palsy. The research authors found that
people in those studies who received the acupuncture treatment did
better and had fewer symptoms than those who did not receive the
treatment.
However, the analysis authors warned that many of the studies they
reviewed had poor methodology, and more research is needed.
Simpson said while there is not good evidence that acupuncture helps,
there’s also little risk associated with having it done.
“Since the risk is quite low, if the patient is interested in acupuncture that
is perfectly OK,” he said.
For patients who have symptoms months to years after initial onset, there
are other more invasive options including Botox injections and surgery to
help fix the appearance of drooping.
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Who is at risk?
Bell’s palsy affects approximately 40,000 people in the United States
every year, mainly between the ages of 15 to 60.
Men and women are affected about equally.
Many people may think they’re having a stroke when they develop the
facial droopiness, but a stroke will also lead to weakness on the side
where the face is drooping.
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10/8/21, 12:20 PM Bell’s Palsy: How Serious a Condition?

HEALTH NEWS u Fact Checked

How Serious a Condition is Bell’s Palsy?

The ailment can affect 1 in 60 people during their lifetime. Actress

“until it manifests itself in their own health.”

By sharing her story, Jolie spotlighted a condition that affects about 1 in

What causes Bell’s palsy?

Currently, doctors believe viral infections can kick-start inflammation and

TRANSFORM: Health Equity

The standard treatment for Bell’s palsy is steroids and antiviral 

Simpson said there isn’t a lot of solid evidence on how effective

One published analysis  examined 14 studies that investigated

ACCEPT More information

Men and women are affected about equally.

READ THIS NEXT

Why People Are Choosing Acupuncture Over

ACCEPT More information

Recurrent Herpes Simplex Labialis

Recurrent herpes simplex labialis is a condition of the mouth caused by

Bell’s Palsy: What Causes It and How Is It

Bell’s palsy causes a temporary weakness or paralysis of the facial

ACCEPT More information

Medically reviewed by Seunggu Han, M.D.

Peripheral neuropathy is a disorder that occurs when your peripheral

Parosmia is term used to describe health conditions that distort your

Abnormal posturing refers to rigid body movements and chronic abnormal

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)

Natural Treatments for PANDAS

PANDAS is a rate condition that affects children and is brought on by a

Get our wellness newsletter

Enter your email SIGN UP 

Your privacy is important to us

About Us Medical Affairs

Contact Us Content Integrity

Privacy Policy Newsletters

About | Careers | Advertise with us

Medical News Today

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