What is Facial paralysis?

Facial paralysis occurs when a person is no longer able to move some of all the muscles on one side of his face. These muscles are responsible for vital functions such as eating, speaking, closing the eyes and expressing emotions. Facial paralysis may be caused by trauma, stroke or tumours that compress the facial nerve, diseases that affect the facial muscles or infections that may cause temporary or permanent nerve dysfunction.

The symptoms of facial paralysis include:

• Inability to raise an eyebrow
• Inability to close an eyelid and protect the eyeball from drying out
• Sagging of the lower eyelid thus leading to tears dripping down the cheek
• Inability to lower or raise lips leading to dribbling when drinking and slurring of some words when speaking

The symptoms of facial paralysis include:

• Facial pain
• Dizziness or headaches
• Difficulty talking, eating and drinking
• Inability to express emotion
• Muscle twitching
• Tearing of the eye
• Dryness of the mouth and eye

Contact your doctor immediately if you have weakness or numbness in your face!