Will using the air conditioner too much cause "facial nerve paralysis"? Learn about this disease in one article!

In the hot summer, if you try to cool down after sweating profusely or use air conditioning improperly, the body surface temperature will change suddenly, which will stimulate the facial nerves and may cause neural tube functional disorders, resulting in symptoms such as facial stiffness, numbness, drooling, and facial paralysis. This is facial nerve paralysis, the so-called "facial paralysis."

Image source: Chinese Medical Association

What is facial nerve palsy?

Facial nerve paralysis is also known as "facial neuritis" or "Bell's palsy", commonly known as "facial paralysis", "crooked mouth" and "hanging line wind". It is a motor dysfunction of the facial expression muscles caused by damage to the facial nerve. The main manifestations are crooked corners of the mouth on the affected side, difficulty closing the eyes, puffy cheeks and air leakage, incomplete index teeth and drooling. It is a common and frequently occurring disease that is not limited by age.

How is facial nerve paralysis treated?

Early treatment is mainly based on medication to improve local blood circulation and eliminate inflammation and edema of the facial nerve. Late treatment is mainly based on facial muscle function training to promote muscle fiber contraction and blood circulation, control facial muscle spasm and prevent facial muscle atrophy, and promote functional recovery.

1

Drug treatment

(1) Oral corticosteroids: oral prednisone acetate or dexamethasone.

(2) Neurotrophic metabolic drugs: vitamin B1, vitamin B12, methylcobalamin, citicoline, etc.

(3) Oral antiviral drugs: Oral acyclovir or valacyclovir can be selected.

(4) Chinese patent medicine: Some Chinese patent medicines that promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis can be used to promote the recovery of facial nerve.

2

Physical therapy

(1) Ultrashort wave non-thermal treatment is given near the styloid foramen for 10 minutes once a day to improve nerve ischemia and edema.

(2) After the acute phase, local infrared irradiation can be used to accelerate local blood circulation, promote the elimination of edema, and relieve pain.

(3) During the recovery period, low- to medium-frequency stimulation can be used locally to help improve active contraction of facial muscles.

3

Exercise therapy

(1) Eyebrow lifting exercise: Try your best to lift the eyebrow on the affected side upwards.

(2) Nose-lifting exercise: lift your nose upward.

(3) Teeth showing training: Use force to show teeth and move the corners of the mouth to the side.

(4) Lip pursing exercise: Contract your lips forcefully and pucker your lips forward.

(5) Cheek puffing exercise: Ask the patient to close his lips as tightly as possible so that both cheeks are inflated with air.

(6) Eye closure training: Use force to close the palpebral fissure.

Image source: Chinese Medical Association

Practice each of the above movements 10 to 20 times, 2 to 3 times a day, to promote the recovery of facial expression muscles.

How to care for facial nerve paralysis?

1

Protect your eyes

People with incomplete eye closure are prone to photophobia and tearing. They need to protect their eyes in time and avoid rubbing their eyes with their hands. Wear sunglasses in strong light during the day, put eye drops twice a day in the morning and evening, or cover with eye ointment before going to bed. Reduce contact with electronic screens to avoid conjunctivitis.

2

Diet care

Avoid eating spicy, greasy, cold foods, as well as "irritating foods" such as seafood, beef, mutton, leeks, peanuts, etc., and eat more vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

Copyright images in the gallery. Reprinting and using them may lead to copyright disputes.

3

Facial Treatment

Apply a hot and wet towel to the affected side of the face at a temperature of 50℃ to 60℃, 2 to 3 times a day, 10 to 15 minutes each time. Massage the affected side yourself in the morning and evening, using gentle, moderate, and continuous force, and massaging the correct area.

4

Oral Care

When eating and chewing, food is easily retained between the teeth and cheeks on the affected side, so care should be taken to ensure oral hygiene. You can rinse your mouth with warm water after meals and brush your teeth before going to bed.

5

Other considerations

Pay attention to keeping your face warm and avoid direct wind; pay attention to rest, avoid staying up late, do not sleep on a cool mat, and keep the mobile phone away from your head; increase exercise (change into dry clothes in time after exercise) to increase resistance.

Planning and production

Produced by: Chinese Medical Association

Author: Huang Liurong, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College

Review丨Chen Bocan, deputy chief nurse of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College

Editor: Yinuo

The cover image and the images in this article are from the copyright library

Reprinting may lead to copyright disputes