NBA star Joel Embiid recently scored 50 points for the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Playoffs. However, during the postgame press conference, the main topic of discussion was not his outstanding performance but his health. Embiid revealed that he had been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy the week before, as his left eye wasn’t blinking and his face was drooping.
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 the signs of Bell’s palsy and stroke can sometimes be similar. The best way to diagnose the condition is for a medical provider to interact with the patient face-to-face. Symptoms of Bell’s palsy can also include alterations 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. Switching gears to a different topic, discussions about pregnancy often involve terms like postpartum depression or the baby blues. The broader term for these issues is PMAD, which stands for 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, pointed out that being a new mom can lead to various symptoms like brain fog, crying, sleep disturbances, compulsive behavior, and even suicidal thoughts. The causes of these issues are multifaceted, originating from psychological, societal, and biological factors. Waters emphasized that there is nothing a mother has done to deserve or acquire these experiences and that it’s important to help her navigate through them.
Resources for addressing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders include support groups, counseling
