Symptoms of Bell's palsy

Symptoms of Bell's palsy include:

weakness on 1 side of your face, or not being able to move 1 side of your face—this usually happens over a few days
a drooping eyelid or corner of your mouth
drooling
a dry mouth
loss of taste
a dry or watering eye

You may also find it difficult to close your eyes on your face's weak side.

Rarely, you may be unable to move both sides of your face.

you have symptoms of Bell's palsy

Getting help as soon as possible is important because treatment for Bell's palsy is more effective if started early (within 72 hours). You may click the below link to get advice from a health professional.

Dr. Md. Nesar Uddin Shaker

Treatment for Bell's palsy

Treatments for Bell's palsy include:

a 10-day course of steroid medicine, sometimes with antiviral medicine
eye drops and ointment to stop the affected eye from drying out
surgical tape to keep the eye closed at bedtime

If you cannot close your eyes, you may need treatment to prevent damage to your vision.

Recovering from Bell's palsy

Your Bell's palsy symptoms should get better within 6 months, but it can take longer for some people.

Go back to see a GP if your symptoms are not getting better after 3 weeks.

Some people can have permanent facial weakness and symptoms such as:

pain in their face, around the jaw, and behind the ear
a constantly watering eye
difficulty eating and drinking
changes in their sense of taste
difficulty with loud sounds

Living with Bell's palsy can make you feel depressed, stressed, or anxious. Speak to a GP if it's affecting your mental health.

You'll usually only get Bell's palsy once, but rarely it can come back, sometimes years later.

Bell's palsy

Basics

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