Bell’s Palsy During Pregnancy What is Bell’s Palsy? Bell’s palsy is often described as a type of unexplainable facial paralysis which is often temporary, resulting from damage to the nervous system, trauma, or often for unknown reasons. This condition is often developed in women who are in their third trimester of pregnancy which begins suddenly and worsens over three to five days. Scientifically speaking, the facial (seventh cranial) nerve signals from the brain to the facial muscles on the specific side. This signal passes through a bony tunnel near the ear, which when pinched will swell and prevent the nerve from functioning in a normal manner. In pregnant women, a typical population experiencing Bell’s palsy, it is caused by a variety of issues such as high levels of fluid in tissue, viral inflammation, suppression of the immune system, and so on. Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy: Twitching, paralysis on at least one side of the face Drooping eyelid or lips Dryness (or excessive tearing) in eyes or mouth Loss of/unusual taste Loss of feeling in face Pain in/behind ear Heightened sensitivity to sound Although this list of symptoms might help you self-diagnose, consulting medical professionals are the best next step for you. Through electromyography and various scans (MRI, CT, X-ray), experts are able to properly diagnose by either measuring electrical activity levels of facial nerves or by determining other underlying factors. What Causes Bell’s Palsy? There is no definite answer as to the cause of Bell’s palsy. Many experts believe a virus may be behind this condition, specifically the herpes virus, which triggers the nerve to swell. Therefore, anyone who has had chicken pox as a child carries the herpes virus in their body and it can be activated at any time. Other possibilities are cytomegalovirus and lyme disease, which might be the main cause in regions where these diseases are common and therefore caused by bacteria. Acupuncture and Other Treatment for Bell’s Palsy: The typical recommendation for treatment is shielding the eye from drying, which may include application of eye drops or ointment. More aggressive forms of treatment include steroid medications (prednisone) to reduce swelling, antiviral medications (acyclovir), analgesics to relieve pain and physical therapy for stimulation. While some of these are perfectly fine for pregnant women (the main victims of Bell’s Palsy) to use, the most effective ones like steroids are not ideal to take during pregnancy. Therefore, many women have turned to more holistic approaches, like acupuncture for relief. In fact, recent studies have shown that acupuncture has actually helped various paralysis cases, including Bell’s palsy when administered on a regular basis. If medication is necessary, acupuncture will support your body to heal faster and with less side effects. Traditional Chinese medicine describes Bell’s palsy as the swelling of the nerve (which was mentioned previously) obstructing blood and qi (vital energy), leading to the malnourishment of the surrounding muscles and tendons. Because acupuncture’s key goal is to maintain proper flow of qi, it is beneficial to restoring blood circulation to sites affected by Bell’s palsy. Specifically, your body recognizes acupuncture needles as both a stimulation and conductor of electricity, which triggers your body to simultaneously send white blood cells to the site and reactivate nerve pathways and areas of the brain which control the healing process in the affected area. Therefore as a result, feeling and control in your face is often restored rather quickly. Diet and Supplements to Treat Bell’s Palsy: Despite the fact that you are constantly encouraged by medical professionals to maintain a healthy diet and supplement if necessary, it might help especially in this case. Be sure to eliminate immune system stressors, give yourself sufficient rest, exercise moderately and fill your diet with nutrient-rich food: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, fish, and limited red meat, poultry and dairy. Call Today For An Appointment: (561) 459-0528
Bell’s Palsy During Pregnancy
Bell’s Palsy During Pregnancy What is Bell’s Palsy? Bell’s palsy is often described as a type of unexplainable facial paralysis which is often temporary, resulting from damage to the nervous system, trauma, or often for unknown reasons. This condition is often developed in women who are in their third trimester of pregnancy which begins suddenly and worsens over three to five days. Scientifically speaking, the facial (seventh cranial) nerve signals from the brain to the facial muscles on the specific side. This signal passes through a bony tunnel near the ear, which when pinched will swell and prevent the nerve from functioning in a normal manner. In pregnant women, a typical population experiencing Bell’s palsy, it is caused by a variety of issues such as high levels of fluid in tissue, viral inflammation, suppression of the immune system, and so on. Symptoms of Bell’s Palsy: Twitching, paralysis on at least one side of the face Drooping eyelid or lips Dryness (or excessive tearing) in eyes or mouth Loss of/unusual taste Loss of feeling in face Pain in/behind ear Heightened sensitivity to sound Although this list of symptoms might help you self-diagnose, consulting medical professionals are the best next step for you. Through electromyography and various scans (MRI, CT, X-ray), experts are able to properly diagnose by either measuring electrical activity levels of facial nerves or by determining other underlying factors. What Causes Bell’s Palsy? There is no definite answer as to the cause of Bell’s palsy. Many experts believe a virus may be behind this condition, specifically the herpes virus, which triggers the nerve to swell. Therefore, anyone who has had chicken pox as a child carries the herpes virus in their body and it can be activated at any time. Other possibilities are cytomegalovirus and lyme disease, which might be the main cause in regions where these diseases are common and therefore caused by bacteria. Acupuncture and Other Treatment for Bell’s Palsy: The typical recommendation for treatment is shielding the eye from drying, which may include application of eye drops or ointment. More aggressive forms of treatment include steroid medications (prednisone) to reduce swelling, antiviral medications (acyclovir), analgesics to relieve pain and physical therapy for stimulation. While some of these are perfectly fine for pregnant women (the main victims of Bell’s Palsy) to use, the most effective ones like steroids are not ideal to take during pregnancy. Therefore, many women have turned to more holistic approaches, like acupuncture for relief. In fact, recent studies have shown that acupuncture has actually helped various paralysis cases, including Bell’s palsy when administered on a regular basis. If medication is necessary, acupuncture will support your body to heal faster and with less side effects. Traditional Chinese medicine describes Bell’s palsy as the swelling of the nerve (which was mentioned previously) obstructing blood and qi (vital energy), leading to the malnourishment of the surrounding muscles and tendons. Because acupuncture’s key goal is to maintain proper flow of qi, it is beneficial to restoring blood circulation to sites affected by Bell’s palsy. Specifically, your body recognizes acupuncture needles as both a stimulation and conductor of electricity, which triggers your body to simultaneously send white blood cells to the site and reactivate nerve pathways and areas of the brain which control the healing process in the affected area. Therefore as a result, feeling and control in your face is often restored rather quickly. Diet and Supplements to Treat Bell’s Palsy: Despite the fact that you are constantly encouraged by medical professionals to maintain a healthy diet and supplement if necessary, it might help especially in this case. Be sure to eliminate immune system stressors, give yourself sufficient rest, exercise moderately and fill your diet with nutrient-rich food: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, fish, and limited red meat, poultry and dairy. Call Today For An Appointment: (561) 459-0528