Concerns about hemifacial seizures

Hemifacial spasm is known in technical terms as hemifacial spasm (HFS). It is characterized by involuntary, involuntary twitching or spastic movements of the muscles on one side of the face (innervated by nerve VII). This disease is classified as a movement disorder without dystonia. Here, let SignsSymptomsList find out about hemifacial seizures, their causes and treatment.

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• 1. Overview of hemifacial seizures
• 2. How to recognize hemifacial seizures?
• 3. What causes hemifacial seizures?
• 4. How to treat hemifacial seizures?
• 5. The relationship of hemifacial spasm with other diseases
• 6. Prognosis of hemifacial seizures

1. Overview of hemifacial seizures

Hemifacial seizures are a neurological disorder. In which the muscles on one side of the patient's face twitch unintentionally. The cause of hemifacial seizures is usually damage or irritation of the facial nerve, also known as the seventh cranial nerve. It can also be due to facial nerve injury or tumor, or the cause is unknown.

Hemifacial seizures affect many muscle groups. Including: eyelash sphincter, forehead muscle, frown muscle, nose muscle, cheek muscle, lip sphincter, smile muscle, neck muscle, etc.

Hemifacial seizures can occur in both men and women. However, they are most common in women over 40. They also tend to occur more often on the left side of your face.

Hemifacial seizures affect many muscle groups

2. How to recognize hemifacial seizures?

The first symptom of a hemifacial seizure is an unintentional twitching of only one side of the face. Hemifacial seizures usually begin in the eyelid as a mild twitch. This is called cerebral spasm. You may notice that seizures become more apparent when you're nervous or tired. Sometimes, these eyelid twitches can cause your eyes to close completely or cause you to have tears in your eyes.

Over time, the convulsions may become more apparent in already affected areas of the face. The seizure can also spread to other parts of the face and body, including:

• Eyebrow
• Mother
• The area around the mouth, such as the lips
• Chin
• Jaw
• Upper neck

In some cases, facial spasms can spread to every muscle on one side of the face. Spasms can also occur while you are sleeping. As the seizures spread, you may also notice symptoms such as:

• Change your hearing
• Tinnitus
• Ear pain, especially pain behind the ear
• Contraction of the whole face

Hemifacial seizures are common in women over the age of 40 and tend to occur on the left side of the face.

3. What causes hemifacial seizures?

Hemifacial seizures are usually caused by irritation of the facial nerve. It can also be caused by an injury to the facial nerve or by a tumor. Sometimes hemifacial spasms have no identifiable cause and are often referred to as idiopathic hemifacial seizures.

An injury to the head or face can also cause facial spasms due to damage or compression of the facial nerve. More common causes of facial muscle spasms may include:

• The tumor is pressing on your facial nerve
• Sequelae from an episode of Bell's palsy. This condition can cause part of your face to become temporarily paralyzed

These seizures are caused by damage or irritation of the facial nerve

4. How to treat hemifacial seizures?

Diet and medicine

You can relieve your symptoms at home simply by getting plenty of rest and calming your nerves. Limit intake of caffeine and other psychostimulants. In addition, certain nutrients may also help reduce seizures, including:

• Vitamin D from eggs, milk and sunlight
• Magnesium from almonds and bananas
• Chamomile, available as a tea or tablet
• Blueberries, which contain muscle-relaxing antioxidants

The most common treatment for these spasms is taking a muscle relaxant to keep the muscle from convulsing. Your doctor may recommend certain medications such as: baclofen, clonazepam, carbamazepine .

Diet, rest can reduce the symptoms of hemifacial spasm

 Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) injection

Botox injections are also commonly used to treat facial spasms. In this treatment, your doctor uses a needle to inject a small amount of the chemical Botox into a spot on your face near the twitching muscles. Botox makes the muscles weaker and can relieve your spasms. The effect of each injection lasts three to six months before you need another shot.

Talk to your doctor before taking any medication to avoid unwanted side effects.

If medication and Botox don't work, your doctor may also recommend surgery to relieve pressure on the facial nerve.

>> Learn more Cosmetic injections : Get the right understanding of Filler and Botox

Botox injections reduce muscle spasms in the face

Microvascular decompression surgery

A common surgery used to treat hemifacial seizures is called microvascular decompression. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small hole in the skull behind the ear. Then place a Teflon pad between the nerve and the blood vessel that is pressing on it. This surgery only takes a few hours at most. You can go home after a few days of recovery.

5. The relationship of hemifacial spasm with other diseases

Hemifacial seizures can also be caused by a condition similar to trigeminal neuralgia. This condition is caused by damage or irritation of the fifth cranial nerve. Not the seventh cranial nerve - the facial nerve. Trigeminal neuralgia can be treated with many of the same medications and procedures.

An untreated tumor can add to nerve damage if the tumor grows or becomes cancerous. Cancer can quickly spread to other parts of your head and brain. At the same time, the disease causes long-term complications.

The microvascular decompression procedure can cause certain complications, such as infection or difficulty breathing. But microvascular decompression surgery rarely causes any serious complications.

6. Prognosis of hemifacial seizures

Hemifacial seizures can be controlled through home treatment, medication, or surgery. Following your doctor's instructions, you can keep muscle twitching to a minimum. The microvascular decompression procedure helps to reduce and eliminate these seizures.

Untreated hemifacial seizures can be frustrating because they become more noticeable and disruptive over time. Especially if they spread to the entire side of your face. Talk more with friends and family about your spasms. This can help you feel more supported as you manage your symptoms.

Hemifacial seizures are not usually dangerous. But the constant twitching of your face can be frustrating or annoying. In some cases, these seizures may indicate that you have an underlying medical condition or an abnormality in your facial structure. Either of these causes can pinch or damage your nerves and cause your facial muscles to twitch. If you suspect you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, see a specialist for further advice.

Doctor Nguyen Van Huan