'Dry mouth' could be symptom of serious illness
Photo: What disease can dry mouth signal (Getty Images)
Experts claim that if you feel dryness in your mouth, it could be a symptom of a little-known problem. Such a condition requires immediate consultation with a doctor, Mirror reports.
Dryness in mouth – what could be problem?
Reports indicate that you might have Bell's palsy if you experience persistent dryness in your mouth. This is the most common cause of facial paralysis, but there are many other types of facial paralysis.
This type occurs when there is "temporary weakness or lack of movement, which usually affects one side of the face.Although it is treatable, people suffering from it may undergo treatment with steroids. Most people recover within six months, but there is an important 72-hour window you should be aware of.
What are symptoms of Bell's palsy?
- A rapid onset of weakness to full paralysis on one side of your face – within hours to days.
- A drooping face and difficulty making facial expressions, such as closing your eyes or smiling.
- Pain around the jaw or in or behind the ear on the affected side.
- Increased sensitivity to sound on the affected side.
- Headache.
- Loss of taste.
- Changes in the amount of mucus and saliva you produce.
- In rare cases, Bell's palsy can affect nerves on both sides of your face.
Causes of Bell's palsy
Although the exact cause of Bell's palsy is unclear, it is often associated with a viral infection. Viruses linked to Bell's palsy include those causing:
- Cold sores and genital herpes (herpes simplex).
- Chickenpox and shingles (herpes zoster).
- Infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr).
- Cytomegalovirus infections.
- Respiratory illnesses (adenovirus).
- Rubella.
- Mumps (mumps virus).
- Influenza (flu B).
- Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (Coxsackievirus).
Read also about an unexpected cause of numbness in hands and feet.
Earlier, we wrote about the strange symptoms on the skin that could signal cancer.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
