If you have Bell's palsy, the muscles in your face become temporarily paralyzed. It usually affects just one side of the face. Symptoms appear suddenly - you can't shut your eye and your mouth droops. Symptoms are usually worst about 48 hours after they start.
Scientists think that a viral infection makes the facial nerve swell or become inflamed. You are most likely to get Bell's palsy if you are pregnant, diabetic or sick with a cold or flu.
Three in four patients improve without treatment. With or without treatment, most people begin to get better within 2 weeks and most recover completely within 3 to 6 months.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
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Bell's Palsy
(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/bells/detail_bells.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/paralisis_de_bell.htm -
Bell's Palsy
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/bellspalsy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/bellspalsyspanish/htm/index.htm
- Bell's Palsy(American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery) - http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/bellsPalsy.cfm
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Bell's Palsy(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/bells/bells.htm
- Symptoms of Bell's Palsy(Bell's Palsy Information Site) - http://www.bellspalsy.ws/symptoms.htm
- Surgery for Bell's Palsy(Bell's Palsy Information Site) - http://www.bellspalsy.ws/surgery.htm
- Treatment for Bell's Palsy(Bell's Palsy Information Site) - http://www.bellspalsy.ws/treatment.htm
- Facial Exercises(Bell's Palsy Information Site) - http://www.bellspalsy.ws/exercise.htm
- Causes of Facial Palsy(Bell's Palsy Information Site) - http://www.bellspalsy.ws/cause.htm
- Botox for Residuals(Bell's Palsy Information Site) - http://www.bellspalsy.ws/botox.htm
- Eye Care(Bell's Palsy Information Site) - http://www.bellspalsy.ws/eye.htm
- Residual Effects of Bell's Palsy(Bell's Palsy Information Site) - http://www.bellspalsy.ws/residual.htm
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Bell's Palsy(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/bellspalsy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/bellspalsyspanish/htm/index.htm
- Facial Muscles(Bell's Palsy Information Site) - http://www.bellspalsy.ws/muscles.htm
- Facial Nerve(Bell's Palsy Information Site) - http://www.bellspalsy.ws/nerve.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Bell Palsy(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Bell+Palsy%22
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Clinical prognostic factors for treatment outcome in Bell's palsy: a... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18788688&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Physical therapy for Bell s palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis). - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18646144&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Effects of exercises on Bell's palsy: systematic review of randomized... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18520590&tool=MedlinePlus
- Bell's Palsy -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=bell+palsy[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(case+reports[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+letter[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Find a Neurologist(American Academy of Neurology) - http://www.thebrainmatters.org/index.cfm?key=1.2.2
- Treatment Centers(Bell's Palsy Information Site) - http://www.bellspalsy.ws/centers.htm
- Bell's Palsy Information Site - http://www.bellspalsy.ws/
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
- Bell's Palsy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/brain/bells_palsy.html
- Guide to Understanding Facial Palsy(Children's Craniofacial Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.ccakids.com/Syndrome/FacialPalsy.pdf
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Bell's Palsy(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/brain_nervous/bells_palsy.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/enfermedades/bells_palsy_esp.html
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Bell's Palsy is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/