Hemifacial spasm is a common condition in middle-aged adults, occurring equally in both males and females. It results from abnormalities of the facial muscles, including the forehead muscles, muscles around the eyes, muscles in the cheek area, and muscles in the chin area.
Main Causes of Hemifacial Spasm
- Lesions located in the brainstem, which may be tumors or unexplained inflammation. Additionally, there may be trauma causing blood vessel narrowing or bleeding in the brain that affects these nerves.
- It is believed to be caused by an artery compressing and stimulating the facial nerve (Facial Nerve), causing abnormal function of this nerve, which leads to abnormal nerve signals to the muscles, resulting in muscle spasms in the facial area.
Factors Causing Spasms
Lack of sleep, insufficient rest, psychological stress such as stress, anxiety, irritability, anger, etc. Some cases involve sustained muscle contractions, known as dystonia (), which is a different disorder and not a facial muscle spasm.
Diagnosis
Examinations to detect lesions include MRI or magnetic resonance imaging to observe lesions in the brainstem. Doctors diagnose this condition mainly based on patient symptoms and treat accordingly. For example, if a tumor is found, treatment depends on the stage. If the cause is unknown, treatment can be done in two ways:
- Medication which helps reduce facial spasms, and there are also injections to suppress muscle spasms, helping to weaken the muscles.
- Surgical separation of the artery from the nerve which can completely cure spasms in some patients.
