Bells palsy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Bells palsy - Research Paper ExampleSudden weakness that affects one face of the face causing it to droop. This is the most crucial symptom of Bells palsy. The difficulty arises in closing the eye of that side of the face. 2. Eye becomes dry or produces excessive tears. Sense of taste is also impacted. Bells palsy also affects saliva production. 3. Numbness is another symptom that is found in the affected side of the face. 4. Sometimes, it nervous strain behind the ear to the affected side of the face. 5. Difficulty in smiling, or in creating facial expressions. 6. Eating and drinking problems on the affected side of the face. 7. twitching on the affected side of face. Causes and Risk Factors The fountain of Bells palsy is not quite clear however, it is believed that herpes infection may cause Bells palsy. Viral infection also may cause this disease. Viruses that cause diseases such as chickenpox, respiratory illnesses, rubella, mumps, flu, hand-foot-and-mouth disease may also be responsible for causing Bells palsy. Other conditions that may be behind this disease are Lyme disease, HIV infection, Sarcoidosis, or middle ear infection. The Bells palsy conk ascribable to swelling of facial nerve due to each internal or external cause (PubMed Health, 2012). The people who have an upper respiratory infection much are also considered prone to the disease. Pregnant women carry risk during the last trimester and in the first week after giving birth. Statistics reveal that people in their 40s are more prone to the disease. The people with family history are prone to Bells palsy. Bells palsy is often a frightening experience when it occurs creating a feeling of lash however, stroke symptoms are much more intense unlike Bells palsy that usually vanishes after some time. Stroke generates symptoms such as difficulty speaking, numbness in legs and arms, severe headache and dizziness, and blurred vision. Bells palsy may also cause difficulty in speaking but thus the cause is purely muscular and nothing related to brain functioning. Bells palsy may cause some long term complications too that may occur a few months after onset of the disease and that include permanent tightening of the facial muscles and tearing of eye during eating (PubMed Health, 2012). Diagnosis A arrant(a) physical examination may diagnose Bells palsy. If the condition is due to some brain tumor then MRI or CT scan may be necessary. These trials help ensure if the cause of pressure on facial nerve is tumor or skull fracture. Sometimes, balance test is through to find out if balance nerves are associated. Similarly, perceive tests become necessary if nerve damage has caused damage to inner ear or hearing mechanism. In wider complications, a lumbar puncture test involving cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is carried out so as to eliminate the possibility of autoimmune disease, meningitis or any malign growth of a tumor. Otherwise, governing body Conduction Test and Electromyograph y (EMG) may identify Bells palsy (Wood, 2012). Nerve Conduction Test The Nerve Conduction Test is done to find the extent of nerve damage by measuring how fast signal moves through nerve. Electromyography (EMG) The test is used to follow the nerve damage and its severity by measuring the electrical activity of a muscle such as speed of conduction through stimulation. Usually, this test is employed along with Nerve Conduction Test. Epidemiology Bells palsy is not found to show gender predilection. Female teenagers are found to be affected more but males suffer in large numbers once they cross