Facial paralysis due to habit of using air conditioner too cold

Turning on the air conditioner at a very cold temperature, causing a large temperature difference compared to the outside temperature, is a dangerous habit that can easily cause heat shock and lead to nerve paralysis.

Turning on the air conditioner at a very cold temperature, causing a large temperature difference compared to the outside temperature, is a dangerous habit that can easily cause heat shock and lead to nerve paralysis.

Recently, Medlatec Thanh Xuan General Clinic received a case of a 40-year-old female patient with facial paralysis after waking up one night.

Illustration photo

Diagnosis showed that the patient had peripheral facial nerve palsy due to cold exposure, the main cause coming from the habit of turning on the air conditioner too cold at night - a common habit but potentially dangerous to health.

Female patient, LAT (40 years old, Hanoi ), came for examination with right facial paralysis, deviated philtrum, and inability to close right eye.

According to Ms. T., she usually has the habit of turning on the air conditioner at a low temperature all night to avoid the heat. However, that morning, when she woke up, she discovered that her right face was numb, her head was heavy and she was tired.

Initial diagnosis at the clinic determined that she had right peripheral facial nerve palsy, caused by cold.

The doctor ordered an MRI to examine the nervous system and brain, which showed mild degeneration of the subcortical white matter, but no acute lesions were detected.

Based on the test results, the doctor prescribed a treatment regimen combining medication and rehabilitation exercises to help the patient recover.

According to MSc. Bui Thi Thanh, turning on the air conditioner to a very cold temperature causing a large temperature difference compared to the outside is a dangerous habit, easily causing heat shock and leading to nerve paralysis.

The 7th cranial nerve is responsible for motor, sensory and taste functions. When paralyzed, the patient may experience symptoms such as crooked mouth and facial paralysis. Eyes cannot close completely, forehead wrinkles are lost, and nasolabial folds are blurred. Earache, tinnitus, and partial loss of taste.

Common causes of facial nerve palsy include: Sudden cold exposure: Causes inflammation and swelling of the nerve, constriction of blood vessels leading to ischemia.

Infection: Otitis media, petrositis, or shingles. Head injury or compressive tumor.

So, according to doctors at Medltec General Hospital, can a patient with facial paralysis recover or not? The patient's ability to recover depends on the extent of the injury, the time of detection and treatment.

According to Master, Doctor Bui Thi Thanh, if diagnosed early and treated promptly, patients can recover after 1-3 months. Young people often have the ability to recover faster, while the elderly are at risk of recovering more slowly and may not recover.

Using air conditioning at too low a temperature in hot weather can easily lead to heat shock, especially when users suddenly leave a cold room.

To prevent Bell’s palsy and other health problems, doctors recommend that people avoid sleeping in drafty or cold places. Air conditioning should be set at 26-27 degrees Celsius.

Avoid sudden changes in temperature when moving from a cold room to the sun and vice versa. Avoid sudden exposure to cold water after coming in from the sun. Do not take a bath late at night and avoid taking a cold bath in the evening.

With the above advice, people need to be careful in using air conditioners and monitor their health. When detecting symptoms such as crooked mouth, facial paralysis, they need to go to a medical facility immediately for timely diagnosis and treatment to avoid dangerous complications.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/liet-nua-mat-vi-thoi-quen-dung-dieu-hoa-qua-lanh-d230113.html