What to do about Bell's palsy

Bell's palsy is an inflammation of the facial nerve, believed to be caused by a viral infection, that results in paralysis of one side of the face. It can cause startling changes on the affected side: a drooping mouth, a sagging eyebrow and lower eyelid, and an eye that won't fully close. It can take several weeks to return to normal, and treatment is typically a corticosteroid medication.