Hemifacial spasm
Hemifacial Spasm
Hemifacial spasm (pronunciation: /ˈhɛmɪˌfeɪʃəl ˈspæzəm/) is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary twitching or contractions of the facial muscles on one side of the face.
Etymology
The term "hemifacial" is derived from the Latin words 'hemi' meaning 'half', and 'facialis' meaning 'pertaining to the face'. "Spasm" originates from the Greek word 'spasmos', which means 'a drawing, a pulling'.
Symptoms
The primary symptom of hemifacial spasm is involuntary twitching of the facial muscles. These spasms usually start around the eye and may gradually spread to involve the muscles of the lower face and mouth. The spasms often increase in intensity when the individual is under stress or fatigued.
Causes
Hemifacial spasm is most commonly caused by a blood vessel pressing on the facial nerve near where it exits the brainstem. This condition is also associated with Bell's palsy, tumors, and stroke.
Treatment
Treatment options for hemifacial spasm include medication, Botox injections, and microvascular decompression surgery. The choice of treatment depends on the severity of the symptoms and the underlying cause of the condition.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Hemifacial spasm
- Wikipedia's article - Hemifacial spasm
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski