The symptoms of Bell's palsy may look like other conditions or medical problems. 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. It is also crucial that you protect the affected eye from drying. Use of eye drops during the day and ointment at bedtime can protect the cornea from scratching.
If there is no improvement or if any symptoms worsen, it is important to tell your healthcare provider. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. 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. Jolie made the surprise announcement last week that she had developed the condition while separating from her husband, actor Brad Pitt.
By sharing her story, Jolie spotlighted a condition that affects about 1 in 60 people during their lifetime. 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 droop. It can also affect tear ducts and taste sensations from the tongue.
It was named after the Scottish surgeon Sir Charles Bell, who figured out what the facial nerve did and 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. Jolie told Vanity Fair that she developed hypertension, high blood pressure last year, and also mentioned stress. 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.
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. Most people get better within 9 months.
These can be signs of a stroke , which is a medical emergency. Unlike Bell's palsy, the symptoms of a stroke usually come on suddenly. It's important to see a GP as soon as possible after developing these symptoms. This is because treatment for Bell's palsy is more effective if started early within 72 hours. You may also have a problem closing one of your eyes. If this is the case you may need additional treatment to prevent damage to your vision. The GP might prescribe a type of steroid called prednisolone.
Treatment with prednisolone should begin within 3 days 72 hours of the symptoms starting.
0コメント