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About Bell's Palsy




Bell's Palsy is a temporary condition, which occurs abruptly and causes the facial muscles to weaken or become paralyzed. It is caused by trauma to the 7th cranial nerve - the facial nerve - that exits the skull under the ear. This nerve controls the movement of the facial muscles on each side of the face - the muscles which produce winking, blinking, smiling and frowning. The paralysis causes the eyelid to droop and facial muscles to sag on the side of the face that is affected. The cause of Bell's palsy is not clear. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bell's Palsy affects 40,000 Americans each year, particularly those suffering from Lyme disease, diabetes, herpes virus or an upper respiratory illness such as the flu, which can all cause swelling around the nerve. The trauma to the nerve occurs when it is swollen, compressed or inflamed. These conditions inhibit nervous signals from the brain to the facial muscles and cut off blood supply to the nerve, inhibiting its function and causing muscle paralysis. 
80% of people with Bell's Palsy fully recover within three months, and of those, some may recover in only 2-4 weeks, depending on the severity of the trauma.

Nothing can be done to cure Bell's Palsy, but measures can be taken to lessen continued damage and aid in the healing of the nerve. Most cases are treated with a corticosteroid to reduce inflammation and the affected eye must be protected to prevent damage to the cornea and/or loss of sight due to the eye's inability to blink or close to hydrate and protect itself. Zinc and a high potency B-complex supplement (with B1, B6 and B12) provides increased circulation (to prevent muscle atrophy) and critical nerve nutrition, and encourages nerve repair and growth. Diet can also play a role in recovery, by eating foods high in B vitamins* and foods that help to reduce inflammation, and by avoiding processed foods and oils that have Trans Fats and Omega-6 fatty acids - all of which cause inflammation.

* Foods high in vitamin B12 include beef, cheese, seafood, eggs and milk. Excellent sources of vitamin B6 include spinach, peppers, tuna, cauliflower, bananas and broccoli.

Note: I am by no means an expert on Bell's Palsy...I've just had it for a week and done some research. The following links are my sources for this information and I recommend them for learning more about Bell's Palsy:
http://www.livestrong.com/sscat/bells-palsy/

http://www.webmd.com/brain/tc/bells-palsy-topic-overview#1

http://bellspalsy.ws/

https://www.drvitaminsolutions.com/content/bells-palsy-01

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