What is Bell's palsy?
Bell palsy is characterized by one-sided facial nerve paralysis that comes on suddenly for which there is no known cause. It affects the 7th cranial (facial) nerve and may possibly be due to an immune or viral disorder.
How do members experience Bell's palsy?
Top 5 symptoms reported by people with Bell's palsy*
Common symptoms
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Facial paralysis
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Common symptom
Stress
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Nothing reported yet
Common symptom
Difficulty speaking (dysarthria)
How bad it is
What people are taking for it
Nothing reported yet
*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.
Top treatments taken by people for Bell's palsy*
Who has Bell's palsy on PatientsLikeMe?
| Age | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| <20 | 1 | |
| 20s | 10 | |
| 30s | 29 | |
| 40s | 61 | |
| 50s | 76 | |
| 60s | 80 | |
| 70+ | 39 |
Distribution of sex
| Sex | Proportion | # of patients |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 76 | |
| Female | 214 |