Waking up to find one side of your face drooping, an eye that won't close and water dribbling from the corner of your mouth is frightening. The most common cause is Bell's palsy — a sudden, inflammation-related weakness of the facial nerve.
Symptoms of Bell's palsy
- Weakness of one side of the face developing over hours to a day or two
- The eye on that side does not close fully and may water
- Unable to wrinkle the forehead on that side
- Pain behind the ear, sounds seeming louder, reduced taste
Stroke or Bell's palsy?
A simple clue: Bell's palsy affects the whole side of the face including the forehead — the person cannot wrinkle that side of the forehead. In a stroke, the lower face usually droops while forehead movement is preserved, and arm or leg weakness or slurred speech is often present.
Treatment — timing is everything
Starting treatment within the first 72 hours gives the best chance of recovery. Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medicine as appropriate. About 70–85% of people recover fully or almost fully within a few weeks to three months.
Eye care — the most neglected part
An eye that cannot close may dry out and develop a corneal ulcer. So:
- Use the lubricating eye drops your doctor recommends several times a day
- At night apply eye ointment and gently tape or pad the eye shut
- Wear glasses outdoors to protect from dust
Facial exercises
In front of a mirror, gently practise raising the eyebrows, closing the eyes, smiling, whistling and puffing the cheeks. Vigorous massage or hot compresses are not needed.
Don't lose precious time on home remedies — see a doctor early.