BELL’S PALSY By: Annabelle Bonds

WHAT IS BELL’S PALSY?

Bell’s Palsy is a medical condition. This condition is a type of paralysis (or weakness) of the muscles in the face.

IS THEIR A CURE?

There are no treatments that cure this medical condition all the way. You might get it to go away faster but you will not get rid of it fully.

HOW DOES SOMEONE GET THIS?

This medical condition is thought to be due to inflammation of the seventh cranial nerve, also known as the facial nerve, you may also get it from an illness like herpes.

IS IT CONTAGIOUS?

No, it is not contagious you can return to your daily life. It will not spread when you have it. But, it can be part of genetics.

WHAT CAN AND CAN’T PEOPLE WITH THIS DISEASE DO?

You may not be able to see out of one eye, because it may be closed shut by an eye patch, drooling, drying of the eye, speech is not normal, and earaches.

HOW RARE IS IT?

It is a very common. 40,000 American’s get this yearly.

WHAT SHOULD SOMEONE BE DOING TO PREVENT GETTING THIS DISEASE?

You can’t really prevent this medical condition, it comes very randomly. You might fall asleep one night and then wake up the next morning and be diagnosed with it.

WHAT SHOULD SOMEONE DO TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN’T GET WORSE?

You can use lubricant or eye drops, covering and taping eye closed at night and an eye patch to keep the eye closed. You can also massage your face so that the muscles do not get tight.

WHAT IS THE LIFE EXPECTANCY FOR THIS DISEASE?

This medal condition is not life threating. It may go away in a few months and you will not die from getting this medical condition. You might have long life symptoms from it.

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS?

You may be given an antiviral medication such as Acyclovir. Using this medicine will not treat it all the way, but it might make it go away faster.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Your face may appear to be dropping, because the muscles in your face are relaxed and not tight anymore. Some people notice pain behind their ear a day or two before they notice any weakness. Others comment that sounds seem uncomfortably loud several days before the development of paralysis.

WHERE DOES IT EFFECT?

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

HOW DID IT AFFECT THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU?

It made them feel uncomfortable, because she looked different from them.

HOW DID IT AFFECT YOU EVERYDAY LIFE?

Had to wear a patch on one eye, effected vision. It was hard to eat. Social life, because she felt different.

HOW LONG DID YOU HAVE IT?

She had it for 6 months but she still has a few symptoms today.

WERE YOU IN THE HOSPITAL?

No, but the doctor gave her a eye patch to wear, so that it did not get worse.

WHAT DID YOU DO TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER?

I quit a very stressful job, because the condition can be related to stress.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST REACTION?

She was scared because she thought she was having a stroke, because she didn’t know about the medical condition before she got it.

WORKS CITED

Anderson, Robert. "Bell's Palsy InfoSite & Forums: Bells Palsy / Facial Paralysis FAQs." Bell's Palsy InfoSite & Forums: Bells Palsy / Facial Paralysis FAQs. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://www.bellspalsy.ws/>.

"Bell's Palsy." Bell's Palsy. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://www.lifescript.com/health/a-z/conditions_a-z/conditions/b/bells_palsy.aspx>.

Lava, Neil. "The Basics of Bell's Palsy." WebMD. WebMD, 19 Mar. 2015. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://www.webmd.com/brain/understanding-bells-palsy-basics>.

Lava, Neil. "Diagnosis & Treatment of Bell's Palsy." WebMD. WebMD, 19 Mar. 2015. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://www.webmd.com/brain/understanding-bells-palsy-treatment>.

"Mom's Bell's Palsy Interview." Personal interview. 30 Apr. 2015.

"What Is Bell's Palsy? - Ask Doctor K." Ask Doctor K RSS. N.p., 11 May 2014. Web. 07 May 2015. <http://www.askdoctork.com/bells-palsy-201405126365>.

Wood, Debra. "Bell's Palsy." Bells Palsy. Debra Wood, 1 May 2014. Web. 7 May 2015. <http%3A%2F%2Fweb.a.ebscohost.com%2Fchc%2Fdetail%3Fsid%3D583abe7b-15eb-450f-bc35-a505420dd5b1%2540sessionmgr4003%26vid%3D4%26hid%3D4101%26bdata%3DJnNpdGU9Y2hjLWxpdmU%253d%23db%3Dcmh%26AN%3DHL12019>.