What are the risk factors for contracting Bell's palsy?
Bell’s palsy can affect both genders equally, however, pregnancy does increase the risk of developing Bell’s palsy. Patients with diabetes, hypothyroidism, and older people are at higher risk as well. Often, a viral infection precedes Bell's palsy by 1-2 weeks. It is thought that these causes  can spark the Herpes virus (which typically sits dormant in the facial nerve cell body) to activate and cause facial weakness.