Question
With the cold weather recently, I suddenly developed facial paralysis. However, I have been taking antihypertensive medication. Could high blood pressure lead to facial paralysis symptoms?
Answer
High blood pressure does not cause facial paralysis. If you have facial paralysis, it is important to seek treatment promptly. Facial paralysis, also known as Bell’s palsy or facial neuritis, is a disease characterized by a dysfunction in the facial expression muscle group. It is often caused by viral infections, inflammatory diseases of the cranial nerve, cerebrovascular diseases, intracranial tumors, or brain trauma. The treatment of facial neuritis is mainly based on the specific cause: if it is viral, antiviral treatment can be adopted; if it is neurological, medications such as nerve nutrition, corticosteroids, and B vitamins can be used for treatment; at the same time, attention should be paid to prevent keratitis and conjunctivitis, and to protect the cornea and conjunctiva, using eye masks or eye drops; gentle massage of the facial muscles can help with recovery.