Hemifacial spasm - involuntary twitching of muscles on one side of the face

Hemifacial spasm - involuntary twitching of muscles on one side of the face

What is hemifacial spasm?

Hemifacial spasm is a condition of the nervous system in which the muscles in one area of the face contract involuntarily (spasm, convulsion, twitching).

The main symptom is sudden muscle contractions.

It is characterized by:

  • Spasm appears in one area of the face;
  • You cannot control the process of muscle contraction;
  • Cramp is painless.

The process of muscle contraction begins on the eyelid and spreads to the cheek, as well as around the mouth - a chain reaction is fixed only in one area of the face. Initially, it is temporary, but after a few months or years, the spasm takes a chronic form. Sometimes hemifacial spasm is fixed in both areas of the face.

The most common cause of hemifacial spasm is when a blood vessel touches the facial nerve and causes a reaction. By itself, the cause may be a facial nerve tumor or trauma. Sometimes the exact cause cannot be determined.

A risk factor may be:

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