Stiffness of the face is an unatural and unsettling sensation, but one thats Bell's Palsy patients face all the time.

What is it?

Bell's palsy is a stiffness of the face causing drooping, eyes closing and causing your smile to go to one side.

How do I recognise it?

Bell's Palsy symptoms can come on suddenly and include:

  • Rapid onset of mild weakness to total paralysis on one side of your face — occurring within hours to days — making it difficult to smile or close your eye on the affected side
  • Facial droop and difficulty making facial expressions
  • Pain around the jaw or in or behind your ear on the affected side
  • Increased sensitivity to sound on the affected side
  • Headache
  • A decrease in your ability to taste
  • Changes in the amount of tears and saliva you produce

Causes

The herpes simplex virus seems to be the most common cause of Bell's Palsy.

The nerve which controls your facial muscles becomes inflamed, causing the symptoms of Bell's Palsy.

How do you treat it?

Like any disease, even if there is no cure, there is almost always something you can do to manage it and take control. There are three main areas involved in the treatment of any disease:

For information on medicines and therapies relevant to Bell's Palsy, make an appointment at Lynch's pharmacy, Broadale, Douglas, Cork on 021-4366923.

Learn all about the drugs used to treat the disease and any complementary medicines or therapies proven to help. Equip yourself with the tools to manage the condition and not be managed by it.

How do you live with it?

Certain adjustments may be needed to get on with your life, and often, some simple tips and advice can go a long way to making these changes. 

When you come to a Lynch's Pharmacy Clinic, we give you all the necessary information curently available, to make your life easier and enable you to live better with your condition.

References

Bell's Palsy-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bells_palsy

Bell's Palsy, a comprehensive overview                                                                                                                                         http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bells-palsy/DS00168/DSECTION=causes

Bell's Palsy, information for patients                                                                                                                                                   http://www.cks.nhs.uk/patient_information_leaflet/bells_palsy