Hemifacial Spasm (HFS) - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Hemifacial Spasm also known as Face Twitching is a neurological condition that causes non-painful, uncontrollable twitching on either side of the face. It usually starts with twitching around one eye and then spreads to your mouth. Lip muscle spasms are a common term for hemifacial spasms. 

A blood artery pushing on a facial nerve is the most common reason for these spasms. A tumour or facial nerve damage might also cause them. Although the ailment is not life-threatening, it can harm one's quality of life.

The initial symptoms of hemifacial spasm include twitching or contracting facial muscles, which are typically uncontrollable, painless, and affect a single side of your face.

1. It is initiated in the lower eyelid and might spread to the cheeks and mouth.
2. The spasms may ultimately impact all muscles solely on either part of your face, leading it to twitch uncontrollably. Your mouth may be dragged to one side due to the spasms.

The leading cause, according to doctors, is pressure on the facial nerve caused by a structure or anomaly in the brain.

A blood artery pushing on the facial nerve near where it leaves the brainstem is the most common cause of hemifacial spasms. In some situations, hemifacial spasms can be induced by facial nerve damage or a tumour. Facial nerves govern facial muscle movement, and pressure from a blood vessel or a tumour on the nerve causes messages to be transmitted to the nerve that isn't provided by the brain. Involuntary muscle twitching in the lips and face is caused by these impulses.

Other aspects that trigger spasms are:

1. Anxiety
2. Stress
3. Fatigue
4. Parkinson's disease
5. Multiple sclerosis
6. Bell's palsy
7. Caffeine intoxication 
8. Moving a muscle in the face

However, there are situations when there is no apparent cause, and doctors term the ailment as idiopathic hemifacial spasms.

Hemifacial spasms are a rare neurological disorder. The risk factors for people who are more prone to this condition are:

1. Gender: Although both men and women can get hemifacial spasms, women are prone to the disorder to a greater extent.
2. Age: People between the age of 40 – and 79 years.
3. Geographical factor: The condition is more common among Asians.

Although there is no standard measure to prevent hemifacial spasms, a few common recommendations to minimize symptoms by doctors include:

1. Reducing caffeine intake and other stimulants
2. Reducing stress
3. Managing anxiety
4. Avoiding fatigue

Initially, your physician will perform a physical analysis and check for lip muscle spasms.

Your physician will suggest imaging tests such as Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to create comprehensive images of your skull using a magnetic field and radio waves to diagnose the source of your hemifacial spasm. In addition, your physician may use a contrast dye to search for any aberrant blood vessels irritating the facial nerve (magnetic resonance angiography).

Before visiting your doctor, make a list of questions that might help you understand your condition better. 

The questions could be:

1. What is the cause of my condition?
2. What will be the mode of treatment for my condition?
3. Will the medications react with any of my ongoing medications?
4. Should I modify my dietary habits?
5. Are there any side effects of the prescribed treatment?