What happens when suddenly one side of a person’s face is drooping and the facial muscles cannot be controlled? This is a facial paralysis condition commonly called Bell’s palsy and this is what happened to the husband of a friend based in Australia. When I asked her what the cause of the facial paralysis was, she had no definite answers and replied that maybe it’s due to stress at work. It’s good to know that her husband is doing better now.
While factors such as weak immune system, stress, pregnancy and diabetes are conditions that could increase the risk for Bell’s palsy, some other factors include bacterial infections, head or facial injury, tumors, viruses and neurological disorders. One Bell’s palsy patient Mary Jo got featured in the Oprah Winfrey Show for a successful facial reanimation courtesy of an expert facial paralysis surgeon Dr.Azizzadeh. Restoring a face suffering from Bell’s palsy is a big help in bringing back a person’s confidence.
Anyway, it’s interesting to know that famous persons with Bell’s palsy include Hollywood stars such as Milo Ventimiglia, George Clooney and Katie Holmes. So that explains why Milo’s face is sort of lopsided especially when he talks and smiles.