Facial stiffness on one side of the face should not be taken lightly. Numbness on one side of the face can indicate a variety of serious health issues, including infections and stroke symptoms. What is the cause of the facial numbness on the left side? Check out the following review.
Causes of left-side numbness
The most common causes of facial numbness are nerve damage, pinched nerves, or irritation, which can all be caused by a variety of factors, including infections that can be treated with medication or strokes that require multiple therapies to recover from.
The following are the causes of numbness on the left side of the face:
Infections
Facial numbness can result from both viral and bacterial infections. When viruses or bacteria infect the nerves, the nerves fail to function properly, resulting in numbness on all or one side of the face. The following infections may cause facial numbness:
- Infections of the oral cavity
- Influenza
- Herpes
- HIV or AIDS
- Lyme disease
- Syphilis
- Measles
Bell's palsy
Bell's palsy is a condition affecting the facial nerves and muscles. It is only temporary and happens all of a sudden. Bell's palsy can last for a few weeks before improving. Some symptoms of Bell's palsy are:
- Facial drooping
- Drooling or excessive salivary production
- Ear or jaw pain, or pressure on the affected side
- increased sensitivity to sound
- Reduced sensitivity to taste
- Headache
Bell's palsy usually affects either the entire left or right side of the face. In rare cases, the disease affects both sides of the face at once.
Migraine
Migraine headaches can cause numbness on one side of the face. An intense headache on one side of the head can cause numbness on that side as well. The exact cause of migraine is unknown, but experts suspect it is linked to genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors.
Common migraine symptoms include:
- Throbbing headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sensitivity to sound, light, smell, and touch
- Blurred vision
- Tingling in the limbs
- Dizziness and occasionally fainting
- Difficulty speaking
- Seeing flashes, shapes, or bright spots
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition in which the immune system attacks the protective fat around myelinated nerve fibers. This disrupts nerve transmission between the brain and the rest of the body. This nerve impairment can result in permanent nerve damage if not treated promptly.
MS can cause movement and vision problems, as well as numbness on one side of the body. Other movement disorders include difficulty walking, difficulty maintaining balance, tremors, and the sensation of being electrocuted.
Stroke
Stroke is the leading cause of numbness on the left or right side of the face. This condition is caused by an interruption in blood flow to the brain due to a blood vessel rupture or blockage. Stroke patients must receive immediate medical attention to prevent permanent brain damage.
In addition to the causes listed above, numbness on one side of the face can be caused by tumors, severe anemia, diabetes-related nerve damage, or brain injury. Some of these causes of facial numbness are serious and require specialized care.
If you have symptoms of numbness on one side of your face, see a doctor immediately.
If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- dr Nadia Opmalina
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