Question
What are the differences between facial paralysis and stroke?
Answer
Facial nerve paralysis (facial palsy) and stroke are two different conditions, although they can both cause facial muscle weakness and paralysis. However, their causes, symptoms, and treatment methods vary significantly. Facial nerve paralysis is usually caused by damage to the facial nerve, which may be due to infection, tumor, trauma, or autoimmune disease, and typically affects one side of the face. Symptoms include muscle weakness in the face, drooping eyelids, and crooked lips, which may be accompanied by hearing difficulties and abnormal tongue sensation. A stroke, on the other hand, is an acute brain injury caused by a blockage or rupture of the brain’s blood supply, often accompanied by sudden severe headache, vision problems, speech difficulties, and weakness or paralysis on one side of the body. The symptoms of a stroke are usually more severe than those of facial nerve paralysis and may lead to long-term complications.