Certain habits that most people unknowingly practice in daily life can lead to serious health problems.
Leaving hair wet or damp after a shower and exposing the body to sudden cold can affect the facial nerve and increase the risk of facial paralysis. Experts warn that this is especially dangerous in cold and windy weather.
Facial paralysis is a clinical condition characterized by loss of movement on one side of the face, developing due to damage to the 7th cranial nerve that controls facial muscles. While observed with similar frequency in women and men, the risk is higher in individuals who are pregnant, in the postpartum period, have hypertension, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases.
Although the exact cause of facial paralysis cannot always be determined, approximately two-thirds of cases are considered to be of unknown origin. The most accepted cause is viral inflammation. These viruses, after entering the body previously, can be reactivated by stress, cold weather, physical trauma, and seasonal changes.
The most common symptoms of facial paralysis include loss of movement on one side of the face, drooping at the corner of the mouth, difficulty closing the eye, and facial asymmetry. In some patients, pain behind the ear may be observed before the paralysis develops. Pain starting behind the ear and of moderate intensity can be a harbinger of facial paralysis. However, severe pain can be a negative sign in terms of prognosis. A feeling of fullness in the ear, intolerance to loud sounds, and a decrease in the sense of taste are among other symptoms that may accompany it.
Doctors advise not to go out into windy weather after taking a bath. Stay at room temperature for a while. If a cold air conditioner is on at home, turn it off. (axsam.az)