Mouth distorted due to bathing after drinking alcohol

Doctor Doan Du Manh, a member of the Vietnam Vascular Association - who directly examined the patient, said that the patient shared that he had drunk alcohol with friends the night before. Even though he came home late, he still took a shower and went to bed immediately. The next morning, when he woke up, he felt numbness in half of his face, his right eye could not close, tears flowed continuously and his mouth was distorted.

"The patient came to the clinic in a state of confusion and fear of a stroke. However, through clinical examination and imaging, we determined that this was peripheral nerve 7 damage due to sudden cold exposure," said Dr. Manh.

Peripheral nerve 7 palsy, also known as "facial paralysis", is a condition of loss or reduction of facial muscle movement, causing facial deformity, difficulty in communication, eating and drinking, and can leave sequelae affecting aesthetics.

Dr. Manh said that bathing at night, especially after drinking alcohol, increases the risk of damage to the 7th cranial nerve.

When drinking alcohol, blood vessels dilate, body temperature changes. If exposed to cold water suddenly, blood vessels can constrict strongly, causing blood circulation disorders and affecting the nervous system.

"The change in temperature is too rapid for the body to adapt, causing damage to peripheral nerves, leading to temporary or prolonged facial paralysis," said Dr. Manh.

Why shouldn't you bathe after drinking alcohol?

Dr. Manh also warned that even bathing in warm water after drinking alcohol is not safe. Many people mistakenly think that warm water helps relax the body after drinking alcohol. But in fact, warm water dilates blood vessels, causing alcohol to be absorbed faster into the blood, leading to more severe drunkenness.

At the same time, bathing in warm water also causes the body to lose more water, increasing the risk of low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting.

Not only facial paralysis, bathing after drinking alcohol can also cause stroke.

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According to Dr. Manh, alcohol temporarily increases blood pressure.

If you bathe immediately after drinking alcohol, the sudden change in temperature can stimulate blood vessels to constrict or dilate excessively, increasing the risk of stroke or myocardial infarction.

"We have received many cases of patients having strokes after bathing at night. This is an extremely dangerous habit that many people are still subjective about," he warned.

Dr. Manh recommends not bathing after 10 p.m., especially after drinking alcohol.

"If you feel uncomfortable after drinking alcohol, you can wipe your body with a warm towel instead of bathing directly. This helps avoid the risk of sudden temperature changes affecting the nervous system," Dr. Manh instructed.

In addition, this expert also emphasized the importance of protecting neurological health by avoiding exposure to cold wind after bathing, not letting fans or air conditioners blow directly on the face, maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

"Early detection and timely treatment can help limit serious complications. In many cases, late intervention can leave long-term sequelae, greatly affecting daily life and activities," Dr. Manh warned.