Jakarta (ANTARA) – Symptoms of a slanted face often make people confused, whether it is a sign of a stroke or Bell’s palsy, Neurologist from RSPI, Dr. Sahar Aritonang, Sp. N, M.Sc.Med, FINS said the basic difference between the two lies in the type of nerve affected.
“So usually if you have Bell’s palsy, it is the facial nerve which we call the seventh nerve that is attacked. Meanwhile, if you have a stroke, it can affect the seventh nerve, but it can also be accompanied by other complaints,” said the doctor who graduated from Diponegoro University. during an exclusive interview to commemorate World Stroke Day online in Jakarta, Tuesday.
According to him, in Bell’s palsy, what is affected is the seventh nerve or peripheral facial nerve, which means that the disorder is usually limited to the facial area, without being accompanied by other symptoms such as weakness in the limbs or visual disturbances, which are common in strokes.
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Meanwhile, in strokes, the affected seventh nerve is usually accompanied by additional symptoms in other parts of the body, for example, stroke patients may experience weakness in the hands or feet, as well as impaired vision.
The way to differentiate between the two is quite simple, in the case of Bell’s palsy, one side of the face is completely paralyzed, including the eyebrows and eyes which cannot close completely.
Meanwhile, in strokes, weakness occurs more in the lower part of the face, so that the eyebrows and eyes can still function normally.
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“So it is said that Bell’s palsy means that a total of half of the face will be paralyzed. Meanwhile, if you have a stroke, it is usually only the lower part of the face, below the eyes up to the lips, that is usually the problem,” he said.
Doctor Sahar also emphasized that although both need quick treatment, stroke has a “golden time” for treatment.
Within the first three and a half to four hours, sufferers of non-hemorrhagic stroke (stroke due to blockage) can be given thrombolytic drugs to destroy clots.
Quick treatment is important to increase the chances of better recovery in both conditions.
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Stroke vs. Bell’s Palsy: Spot the Difference!
By Your Favorite Comedic Neurologist (or at least in my dreams)
Ah, Jakarta! The city where the traffic is a stroke of bad luck, and the people are just trying to keep their faces from looking like they’ve had a disagreeable encounter with a particularly rude taxi driver. Speaking of faces, let’s chat about that thing we all love—what happens when one side of your mug decides to take an unscheduled holiday? Is it Bell’s palsy, or have you just knocked yourself out of whack trying to get ahead in life? Well, you’re in luck, dear reader! Let’s unpack this delightful medical conundrum.
What’s the 411 on Bell’s Palsy?
According to the esteemed Dr. Sahar Aritonang from RSPI, Bell’s palsy isn’t just the name of a new indie band—it’s that cheeky little condition where your facial nerve, the seventh cranial doorbell if you will, gets a bit too adventurous. When this happens, the entire one side of your face may just throw in the towel, leaving your eye and eyebrow unable to join the party.
So why does it happen? Well, we don’t entirely know, but many speculate it’s due to viral infections or sometimes, just a cruel twist of fate. Picture it as your face going ‘YOLO’, deciding it only wants to show off half its best features.
Stroke: The Uninvited Alex Reed
Now, on the flip side, we have strokes—the condition that plays an unwanted role in the dramatic soap opera that is life. Unlike Bell’s palsy, a stroke doesn’t just affect the face; it’s like that pesky relative who not only interrupts dinner but also makes a big mess in the living room! You see a stroke can hit anywhere and often shows up with a plus one: weakness in arms or legs, and even a side of vision issues. Charming, right? It can be a bit more of a sneaky presence than Bell’s palsy.
How to Spot the Differences
So how do you tell these two party crashers apart? Well, if one half of your face can’t move while the other is putting on a full-on performance, hello Bell’s palsy! But if your eyebrows are still raising with surprise while the lower half looks like it just got dumped, you could be dealing with a stroke. Easy peasy! It’s all about the finer details, much like knowing the difference between a cabernet and a cheap bottle of Merlot.
Timing Is Everything!
Now let’s get serious for a minute, shall we? Both conditions require swift treatment—especially strokes. Dr. Sahar aptly points out that there’s a golden timeframe—three and a half to four hours, to be exact—where timely intervention with thrombolytic drugs can literally save the day. Failure to act quickly can lead to complications, which is the last thing anyone wants. So if you think you’re having a stroke, don’t delay! Call an ambulance faster than you would call a friend to know which Netflix show to binge next.
