[cresta]

Is Bell's Palsy caused by the std herpes?

[tickle]

cresta, this information is from medbroadcast.com. Bell's was a new one on me and this was helpful information. No not from an STD but from the herpes virus that causes cold sores as you will see:

Bell's Palsy

The Facts

Bell's palsy is a sudden facial paralysis that usually strikes all or part of one side of the face. Men or women of any age can suffer Bell's palsy, but statistics suggest that people aged 20 to 35 are at a slightly higher-than-average risk. Overall, your risk of experiencing Bell's palsy is 1 in 5,000 each year, or 1% over an average lifetime. Few people are struck by Bell's palsy more than once in their lives.

Bell's palsy can be a frightening experience, appearing suddenly with symptoms that cause many people to think they're having a stroke. In reality, stroke symptoms are quite different, and Bell's palsy is a comparatively harmless condition that usually clears up without treatment.

Causes

The mystery of Bell's palsy is just now being unravelled. Japanese research has found that 80% of cases can be traced to the common virus called herpes simplex 1, the virus that causes cold sores. The virus infects the seventh cranial (facial) nerve, which helps control the muscles associated with facial expression. As the nerve swells up, it starts to malfunction.

Some people are more prone to Bell's palsy than others. Your risk is higher if you have one of these conditions:

* a common cold or some other upper respiratory ailment
* cold sores
* diabetes
* influenza
* pregnancy
* shingles (possibly)

Herpes zoster, the virus that causes shingles and chickenpox, hides in your nerve roots. Many experts believe this virus is responsible for some cases of Bell's palsy, but this theory is still controversial