What Is Bell’s Palsy? Angelina Jolie Opens Up About Diagnosis With The Disease

Angelina Jolie recently revealed that she was diagnosed, treated for and recovered from Bell’s palsy, a somewhat rare condition that affects the muscles in the face and can causes temporary facial paralysis.

What Is Bell’s Palsy?

In an open interview withVanity Fair, Jolie discussed her health, professional life, and her personal life.

The condition, when it was most effecting Jolie, caused half of her face to droop.

Medical professionals are unsure about what exactly causes the condition but about 40,000 Americans suffer from Bell’s palsy each year, according to the National Institutes of Health.

“Once other potential causes of facial paralysis are excluded, including tumor, Lyme disease, and shingles, the specific cause of Bell palsy is usually not identified,” David Simpson, M.D., director of the Neuromuscular Division in the Department of Neurology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City told CBS.

“The major prevailing theory concerning the cause of Bell palsy is that it is an immune reaction of the facial nerve in response to a viral infection.”

While several methods for treating Bell’s palsy have been proven to work, Jolie opted for acupuncture, a method that has not been supported by scientific data, according to CBS.

Nonetheless, Jolie has made a full recovery as a result of her treatment.

Additionally, Jolie has also been diagnosed with hypertension.

“Sometimes women in families put themselves last until it manifests itself in their own health,” Jolie told Vanity Fair.

Jolie also joked to the magazine that she wasn’t sure if her ensuing health issues were the result of “menopause or if it’s just been the year I’ve had.”

Jolie and Brad Pitt split up after the Tomb Raider actress filed for divorce in September of 2016. The actress has requested full custody of the couple’s six children – three of whom are adopted.

In the interview with Vanity Fair, Jolie commented on the revealing interview her ex-husband did with GQ earlier this year, in which he admitted to having a drinking problem, which he believes ultimately cost him his family.

Said Jolie, “We care for each other and care about our family, and we are both working towards the same goal.”