What causes Bell's Palsy?

Answer 1

It is not entirely known. A herpes virus is likely, specifically thought to be the one that causes chicken pox and shingles (in adults). Other herpes viruses might also be the cause i.e. Epstein-barr virus or Zoster.

The actual cause is generally an inflammation or injury to cranial nerve VII. The inflammation interferes with the nerve's ability to affect the facial muscles. The cause of the inflammation itself may be any number of things. One common cause is the herpes zoster virus. This virus causes chickenpox and shingles. It does not cause Bell's Palsy. However, shingles in the area of facial nerve may be an indirect cause of the inflammation, if it creates shingles blisters in the vicinity of the facial nerve.
The symptoms of Bell's palsy arise from an inflammation of the seventh cranial nerve, otherwise called the facial nerve. Each side of the face has a facial nerve that controls the muscles on that side of the face.
It happened not long after I was sick and I've had it for over two years . Doctor thinks it will never go way completely .
Herpes virus is the most commonly accepted cause.
It is thought to be the herpes virus, specifically the one that causes chicken pox and shingles. Other herpes viruses might also be the cause i.e. Epstein-barr, Zoster. These viruses lay dormant in the root ganglia behind the face and casue various conditions (like Bell's Palsy) during any immuno-compromised condition like stress, fatigue, or other disease/sickness.

Answer 2

Anyone who is in an immuno-compromised condition (such as stress, fatigue or other illness) and who has had exposure to any herpes virus, mainly the one that causes chicken pox and/or shingles.

Answer 3

yes

answer 2

Most definitely, stress is what caused my Bell's Palsy after a simple cold episode.

ANY virus such as flu/cold can trigger, but stress is huge factor in full blown Bell's Palsy.

b-complex vitamin is helping mine heal quicker, but must be balanced complex.

Answer 4

It does not spread to other parts of the person's body or even to the other side of the face. Bell's Palsy is a temporary paralysis of one side of the face caused by an inflammation of the Facial Nerve (cranial nerve VII). The palsy "spreads" in the sense that a person will feel a paralysis of one part of the face, say the lip or eyelid, and then spread to all other muscles on that side of the face. This is because this particular nerve branches out with one going to one side of the face and another branch going to the other. Once one of the branches is inflamed, the entire side of the face served by that branch of the nerve will eventually become temporarily paralyzed. Since the palsy is caused by inflammation of a specific nerve, the palsy does not spread to any other part of the body that is controlled by some other nerve or nerve system.

Answer 5

The herpes virus attacks the tri-geminal nerve cells of one side of the face, causing a blockage in the nervous pathway to the skin and underlying muscle tissue.

Answer 6

It is caused by a herpes virus during an immuno-compromised condition, so if you have had a herpes infection (chicken pox, shingles, etc.) than you might get Bell's Palsy.

Answer 7

Bell's palsy affects the facial nerve. The resulting muscle weakness can sometimes lead to damage to the cornea, but I suspect the answer you're seeking is "facial nerve."