This paralysis simply corresponds to the true paralysis of part or all of half of the face. This paralysis is due to damage to a nerve called the facial nerve. This nerve is incredible because it runs from the back of the brain, passes through the bone behind the ear, called the rock, and divides at the face.
This nerve notably provides motor skills to the facial muscles. It is thanks to this nerve that you are able to move the muscles in your face to smile, to breathe, to frown or even to close your eyes. Paralysis of this facial nerve will therefore lead to paralysis of the facial muscles. This paralysis most often happens suddenly and we wake up in the morning with half of our face paralyzed. In short, our mouth becomes distorted and we can no longer close our eyes.
There are two types of facial paralysis. One called peripheral and one called central. When the paralysis affects the nerve in its inner part of the brain, it is in the context of a stroke. But in this case, you will have other neurological signs, such as difficulty speaking, a paralyzed arm or leg. In easy peripheral paralysis, the nerve is affected in its peripheral part and therefore you only have this damage to the face without any other neurological signs.
The herpes virus may be the cause
At present, it is not clear why all of a sudden the nerve will be paralyzed. We then speak of cold facial paralysis. It is a disease that affects both men and women, peaking around the age of 40. However, it is believed that this damage to the nerve could be linked to a reactivation of the herpes virus.
In fact, when you contract the herpes virus, you have symptoms for a few days, but then it stays in your lymph nodes for the rest of your life. However, this herpes virus can reactivate and attack this facial nerve.
A bandage is most often prescribed for the paralyzed eye because when you can no longer close it at night you no longer produce tears and this can be dangerous for your eye. It is then necessary to have speech therapy sessions to re-educate the facial muscles. In the vast majority of the time, this paralysis completely resolves within a few weeks or even a few months.
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