Don't be too cool in the hot summer, or you may get facial paralysis

As summer approaches, the temperature gradually rises. I found myself drooling unconsciously after waking up. When I washed my face, I found that my mouth was crooked and my eyes were slanted. I thought something was wrong. Don't worry, this is facial paralysis.

01

Causes of facial paralysis

1. Cold

In the summer, many people use electric fans or air conditioners to blow on their head and face in order to stay cool, or they have recently suffered from poor sleep, fatigue, or high work pressure. When they catch a cold, they are very likely to suffer from facial paralysis.

2. Fatigue

Fatigue is also one of the causes of facial paralysis. Nowadays, people are under increasing work pressure. Traveling, business trips, lack of good sleep and rest for a long time, and high mental stress can easily lead to facial paralysis.

3. Viral infection

For some cases where herpes appears in the ear and external auditory canal after facial paralysis, it is generally caused by viral infection. The most common virus is the herpes virus, and influenza, polycranial neuritis, local infection, etc. are also causes of facial paralysis.

4. Neurogenic or iatrogenic facial paralysis

Neurogenic causes, such as cerebrovascular disease and tumors, and some other traumas, fractures, etc., which damage the facial nerve, can also cause facial paralysis.

In summary

If mild facial paralysis is mainly caused by cold or excessive stress, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just keep a good attitude, go to the hospital for examination in time, follow the doctor's instructions for treatment, and pay attention to supplement more vitamin B in daily life. It is recommended to actively seek medical treatment, find out the cause, and treat the cause.

02

What are the tests for facial paralysis?

Facial paralysis requires physical examination, electromyography, CT, MRI and other related examinations to diagnose. After the cause is determined, targeted treatment measures should be taken in a timely manner.

1. Physical examination

Facial paralysis is caused by facial nerve damage, which can easily lead to symptoms such as crooked mouth corners and weak eyelid closure. At this time, a physical examination is needed to clarify the damage to the facial nerves and compare the facial paresthesias on both sides to determine whether it is a unilateral symptom.

2. Facial nerve electrogram and electromyography examination

Assess the degree and prognosis of facial nerve lesions and observe the progress of recovery. Check whether the muscles and nerves are abnormal, so as to determine the severity of facial paralysis and assist in formulating relevant treatment plans.

3. CT examination

Determining whether there is a high signal shadow near the damaged nerve is also one of the main ways to analyze the cause of facial paralysis. It can be used to determine whether facial paralysis is related to skull fractures, stroke, etc., and it can also determine the damage to the facial nerve.

4. MRI

Observe whether the facial nerve is compressed and determine whether it is caused by a stroke or other reasons.

03

Facial paralysis treatment points

1. Wash your face with warm water every day and apply a hot towel to your face before going to bed to help promote blood circulation in the face. In your free time, do more eye exercises and facial massage to help relieve facial stiffness caused by mild facial paralysis.

2. Try to avoid spicy food in your daily diet to avoid aggravating the condition. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure normal nutritional intake and promote the recovery of mild facial paralysis.

3. Acupuncture, physical factor therapy and other methods can be used to treat mild facial paralysis. Studies have found that the effect of acupuncture treatment is very significant, and when using acupuncture treatment, Chinese medicine or Western medicine can also be used for auxiliary treatment. You must choose the treatment method according to your disease type to ensure the best treatment effect. Choose a regular medical institution for treatment, and do not listen to folk prescriptions to avoid delaying treatment.

4. Take protective measures when traveling, wear a mask when going out in cold weather, and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes when doing outdoor activities to avoid strong light irritation to the eyes.

5. Maintain a good mood and do not put too much psychological pressure on yourself to avoid aggravating the condition. Family and friends should also actively cooperate with the patient to receive treatment and give the patient more support and encouragement. The patient himself should also follow the doctor's instructions and take medicine on time, so as to better treat mild facial paralysis.

Author: Hui Nan (Xi'an Xianhua Rehabilitation Hospital)

Reviewers: Liu Zhaohui (Standing Committee Member of the Home Rehabilitation Committee of the Chinese Rehabilitation Medicine Association, Head of the Science Popularization Working Group), Yan Biyan (Secretary of the Science Popularization Working Group of the Home Rehabilitation Committee of the Chinese Rehabilitation Medicine Association)