Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid recently scored 50 points in the NBA Playoffs, but during a postgame press conference, the focus was not on his impressive performance but his health. Embiid revealed that he had been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy the week before, causing his left eye to not blink and his face to droop.
Bell’s palsy is a neurological disorder and the most common cause of facial paralysis according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Deepak Nair, the director of ambulatory and virtual neurology services at OSF HealthCare, explained that while symptoms of Bell’s palsy and stroke can sometimes resemble each other, it is important for medical providers to interact with patients face-to-face for proper diagnosis. Symptoms of Bell’s palsy can also include changes in hearing and taste on the affected side of the face.
The direct cause of Bell’s palsy is often unknown, but viral infections such as herpes or shingles lesions in the ear can be contributing factors. Shifting gears to a different topic, discussions about pregnancy often involve terms like postpartum depression or baby blues. The broader term for these issues is PMAD (perinatal mood, anxiety, and depression). It is crucial for moms and their healthcare providers to be vigilant about these conditions.
Tiffany Waters, a birthing center charge nurse at OSF HealthCare, emphasized that being a new mom can lead to various symptoms such as brain fog, crying, sleep disturbances, compulsive behavior, and even suicidal thoughts due to psychological, societal
