Bell's Palsy vs Stroke

Women of reproductive age are affected by Bell’s Palsy 2-4 times more than men, and women who are pregnant are even more likely to develop this condition (Cohen et al, 2000). Bell’s palsy is sometimes confused with a stroke, but the two have very different etiologies.

Bell’s palsy is defined as a condition that causes a sudden onset of weakness or paralysis on one side of the face. Its exact cause is unknown, but it’s thought to be involved with inflammation/swelling of the Facial Cranial Nerve that controls the face. The weakness causes one side of the face to droop. If a patient is asked to smile, you would see only one side of the face in a smile, while the other side remains drooped. While this is the main symptom of Bell's Palsy, patients can also experience pain in the jaw, headache, and loss of taste among other symptoms. The symptoms can last a few weeks before they improve, with full recovery taking around 6 months (Bell’s Palsy, 2022).

A stroke is when blood supply to any part of the brain is impaired, and is considered a medical emergency. There are two major causes for strokes, a blockage in an artery or a leaky blood vessel. The most common type of stroke is an ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blockage in an artery. In this type of stroke, fatty or other types of build up from different parts of the body get stuck in the vessels of the brain, preventing blood flow to the brain. Symptoms of a stroke include confusion, paralysis/numbness of the arm, face or leg, vision issues, and headache, among others (Stroke, 2022).

While many of the symptoms between these two diseases seem similar, there are important distinctions. Bell’s palsy results in a one-sided facial paralysis, whereas a stroke will result in facial paralysis along with paralysis of the body. A stroke is also more likely to have confusion in its presentation, whereas bell’s palsy patients have pain in the jaw. It is important to keep the major differences in mind, since some symptoms can overlap, such as the presentation of a headache.

References:

Cohen, Y., Lavie, O., Granovsky-Grisaru, S., Aboulafia, Y., & Diamant, Y. Z. (2000). Bell palsy complicating pregnancy: a review. Obstetrical & gynecological survey, 55(3), 184–188. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006254-200003000-00027

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022, May 4). Bell's Palsy. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bells-palsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20370028

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, January 20). Stroke. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20350113