The weather turns cold, be careful of facial nerve palsy, stroke

In recent days, when the cold air began to flow in, the sudden change in weather caused many people to experience peripheral facial paralysis (7th cranial nerve palsy). In addition, cold weather also increases the risk of stroke.

As the weather turns cold, experts recommend keeping warm when going out - Illustration: NAM TRAN

Facial nerve palsy in cold weather

According to information from Cam Khe Regional Medical Center (Phu Tho), in just 2 days since the weather started to get cold, 6 cases of peripheral facial paralysis were recorded. Patients were hospitalized with symptoms such as crooked mouth, eyes not closing properly, difficulty speaking, and dropping water when drinking.

Mr. Pham Vu Ly (67 years old, in Hung Viet commune) recounted that when he woke up in the morning, his face was tilted to one side, he had difficulty speaking, and his left eye could not close. Worried, he went to the hospital and was diagnosed with Bell's palsy.

According to Dr. Pham Anh Hung, head of the center's traditional medicine and rehabilitation department, this disease often increases sharply during the changing seasons, especially when the temperature changes suddenly, the humidity is high, and the cold wind blows strongly. The main cause is cold in the face, causing the 7th cranial nerve to become inflamed and swollen, leading to loss of control of facial muscles.

"People with weak immune systems, who often stay up late, drink alcohol, work outdoors or bathe late at night when it's cold are at high risk of getting this disease," said Dr. Hung.

At the Center, patients are treated with acupuncture, massage combined with physical therapy to restore facial muscle movement. However, the effectiveness of treatment depends largely on the time of detection. If you come late or arbitrarily apply inappropriate folk remedies, it can cause nerve degeneration, making recovery very difficult.

Dr. Hung recommends that people keep their bodies warm, especially their heads, necks, and faces when going out in cold weather. Wear masks, scarves, and hats to avoid direct wind on the face, especially when sleeping. Avoid bathing late at night and do not let your body get cold after drinking alcohol.

Maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly to improve your immune system. If you have symptoms such as crooked mouth, eyes that cannot be closed properly, or spilling liquid while drinking, you should go to a medical facility early for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Be careful of the risk of stroke

Not only peripheral facial paralysis, cold weather is also an "enemy" of the cardiovascular system. Recently, Dr. Doan Du Manh, a member of the Vietnam Vascular Disease Association, said that he had just received a 74-year-old patient in Hanoi with a cerebral hemorrhage due to high blood pressure. Fortunately, the patient was treated promptly so there were no serious sequelae.

According to Dr. Manh, on the morning of October 26, this patient woke up early to go to the market as usual. While choosing vegetables, an acquaintance noticed that her face was distorted and tilted to one side, so he advised her to see a doctor immediately. The CT scan results showed that her brain was bleeding and swollen, caused by a sudden increase in blood pressure of nearly 200 mmHg.

"If the patient is subjective and goes home to rest before going to the hospital, the consequences can be very serious," Dr. Manh emphasized.

According to experts, cold weather causes high blood pressure due to peripheral vasoconstriction and increased secretion of vasoconstrictor hormones. Sudden changes in temperature, especially in the early morning and at night, can easily rupture cerebral blood vessels or cause blockages due to blood clots, leading to strokes or myocardial infarctions.

High risk groups include people with high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and dyslipidemia. The elderly, those who stay up late, or exercise too early in the morning when it is cold.

To prevent stroke in the cold season, Dr. Manh recommends that the elderly do not go out too early in the morning, especially when the temperature is low. Dress warmly, especially the neck, chest, arms and legs, and drink a cup of warm water before going out to help blood circulate better. Eat a light breakfast to stabilize blood sugar, and avoid going hungry in cold weather.

In particular, pay attention to measuring blood pressure regularly, taking medication regularly as directed by your doctor. Have regular health check-ups to screen for cardiovascular and stroke risks.

Both peripheral facial paralysis and stroke have in common the sudden onset and can easily leave serious sequelae if not treated promptly. Therefore, people need to raise awareness of disease prevention, focus on keeping warm, living a moderate life and closely monitoring unusual changes in the body.

WILLOW

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thoi-tiet-chuyen-lanh-can-trong-liet-day-than-kinh-so-7-dot-quy-20251027210314272.htm