The Department of Medical Services, through the Institute of Neurology, recommends that if you experience weakness on one side of your face, a distorted face, inability to close your eyes completely, a distorted mouth, fluid flowing from the corners of your mouth, and may be unable to speak clearly, abnormal taste sensations on your tongue, headache, tinnitus on one or both sides, difficulty drinking water, or slurred speech, it is a result of a malfunction of the 7th pair of cranial nerves.
Bell’s palsy
Dr. Somsak Arkhansilp, Director-General of the Department of Medical Services, revealed that Bell’s palsy is a condition in which one side of the face is weak or temporarily paralyzed. It is caused by inflammation of the facial nerves. The exact cause of the inflammation of the nerves is still unknown, but it is likely due to a viral infection that causes the mouth to be crooked, such as shingles. This results in a cranial nerve that is cranial nerve 7, which is located on each side of the ufabet https://ufabet999.app face and supports the movement of the facial muscles, such as smiling, frowning, or closing the eyes, as well as the taste sensation from the tongue and sending it to the brain, causing inflammation, affecting taste, tear production, and salivary glands.
Group at risk for Bell’s palsy
Mouth crookedness is an immediate health problem and usually occurs within 48 hours. People who are at risk of developing mouth crookedness include pregnant women, especially those who are in advanced stages of pregnancy or within 1 week after giving birth, patients with diabetes, and upper respiratory tract infections such as the flu.
Symptoms of Bell’s palsy
Dr. Tassanee Tantiritsak, Deputy Director of Medical Affairs, Institute of Neurology, added that patients will have the following symptoms:
- Weak muscles on one side of the face cause a crooked face and mouth.
- Can’t close your eyes completely
- There is water flowing from the corner of the mouth.
- May not speak clearly
- Abnormal taste sensation on the tongue
- Headache
- The ear hears sound louder in one side.
- Difficulty drinking water
Therefore, patients should see a doctor when symptoms appear for immediate treatment. Treatment of mouth paralysis involves medication, which will allow patients to recover faster than before.
Treatment of Bell’s palsy
Treatment for Bell’s palsy is divided into two main methods:
- Physical therapy treatments, such as electrical nerve stimulation or facial massage, can help reduce muscle tension.
- Surgery
Prevention of Bell’s palsy
There is no clear way to prevent crooked mouth or half of the face. This is because the cause is inflammation of the facial nerve, which can occur quickly and severely. Most patients recover within weeks to months. However, there are some groups of patients whose recovery may be slower or take longer, such as the elderly, diabetics, immunocompromised patients, and people who drink alcohol regularly.