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Head Lice – Help!!!

Every parent’s heart sinks when they receive the dreaded note from school warning about head lice. Don’t worry – Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy in Donabate is here to to give us advice and tips. The first thing to do is to check the child’s head. You will need some tea tree conditioner, a... Read more >

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Are You SunSmart?

We ask Jane Brennan from Brennan’s Life Pharmacy Donabate how to make the most of great sunny summer days whilst protecting our skin from harmful rays. Jane says “The Irish Cancer Society SunSmart program has great guidelines to keep us safe. See below for some useful tips and advice” Ways to protect your skin: Shade... Read more >

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Pollen Highs & Watery Eyes

Pollen Highs & Watery Eyes… Talk to Jane Brennan, your Hay Fever Expert in Donabate Are your eyes itchy, red or watery? Is your throat scratchy? Are you sneezing? Do you have itchy ears, nose or mouth? Do you have a blocked or runny nose? Do you wake up feeling exhausted? Hay fever can cause... Read more >

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NHS Choices - Causes of Bell's palsy

(28/10/2014)

Bell’s palsy occurs when the nerve that controls the facial muscles (facial nerve) becomes inflamed or compressed.

It's not known what causes the facial nerve to become inflamed, although it's thought that a virus, possibly a herpes virus, may be responsible.

The facial nerve

The facial nerve passes through a narrow gap of bone near the upper jaw on its way from the brain to the face. If the facial nerve is compressed or swollen it can interfere with the signals that your brain sends to the muscles in your face.

This interference can restrict the blood and oxygen supply to your nerve cells and cause the facial weakness or paralysis that is characteristic of Bell's palsy.

Herpes virus

The types of herpes virus thought to cause inflammation of the facial nerve are:

  • the herpes simplex virus (HSV), including either herpes type 1 (HSV-1), which causes cold sores, or herpes type 2 (HSV-2), which causes genital herpes
  • the varicella-zoster virus, which causes chickenpox and shingles

The varicella-zoster virus is a less common cause of Bell’s palsy than the herpes simplex virus, but can lead to the more serious condition called Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.

Read more about complications of Bell's palsy.

Other viruses

In addition to herpes, Bell's palsy has been linked with many other viral infections, such as:

Other risk factors

People with diabetes and HIV are thought to be at a higher risk of developing Bell's palsy, although the reason for this is not fully understood.