Drooping Facial Muscles
A facial droop happens when there is damage to the face’s different nerves, resulting in the facial muscles not responding and working correctly. The nerve damage could be temporary or permanent, and doctors also say that the condition could manifest when the part of the brain that sends nerve signals to the facial muscles becomes compromised. Facial droop could happen vertically or horizontally and can cause a problem regarding the control of the eyes or mouth.
It can be attributed to Bell’s palsy if the person seems otherwise healthy but manifests sudden facial droop. Bell’s palsy can last between three to nine months and is caused by a virus’s inflammation of the facial muscles. However, doctors also point out that nerve damage could also occur if there’s a blockage in the arteries due to atherosclerosis. Although most studies say that the chances of nerve damage due to progressive arterial blocking can be minimal, it still couldn’t be discounted.
Doctors can treat and reverse facial droop depending on what caused the condition. However, they may order electromyography aside from imaging scans and blood tests to determine the best course for treatment.
