Angelina Kirsch
Model gives health update after diagnosis of facial paralysis
© imago/Future Image
Seven weeks ago, curvy model Angelina Kirsch was diagnosed with facial paralysis. Now she gives an update on her health.
On the worst days she couldn’t close her left eye, her tongue was numb and she couldn’t taste anything. Seven weeks ago, curvy model Angelina Kirsch (35) was diagnosed with half-sided facial paralysis (technical term: “idiopathic peripheral facial palsy”). Now she has posted an update about her health on Instagram. The good news: things are looking up again.
“The laugh is still crooked,” she writes about a recent photo of herself, “but my left side is doing a lot more than it was a few weeks ago.” She continues: “Today I’m celebrating my seven-week anniversary with my facial paralysis, and yes, you heard that right, I’m celebrating!”
“I’m not afraid”
According to the 35-year-old, the most common question is still whether she is afraid that her face will stay that way. Kirsch’s answer to this is clear: “No! First of all, I think that a lot will happen, but I think there’s something to this special laugh too. We’ll see how it goes, but I’m not afraid. What would that be? I couldn’t change it anyway, and what’s going on in life right now?!”
According to doctors, the reason for the sudden illness is probably an infection that paralyzes the facial nerve. “I know that this disease can arise for many reasons and that it can be like looking for a needle in a haystack,” Kirsch said shortly after the diagnosis in July. It is treated with cortisone; in combination with facial exercises, this is sufficient in most cases to alleviate the facial paralysis. “The whole thing requires patience,” said “The Taste” presenter.
According to “Deutsches Ärzteblatt”, idiopathic facial paralysis is a sudden weakness of the facial muscles on one side of the face. It is often noticed by the patient themselves when looking in the mirror. An initial symptom can be fluid leakage when drinking. In addition, taste disorders can occur, as with Angelina Kirsch. The facial paralysis of the peripheral type, such as the presenter’s, must be distinguished from central facial paresis, which occurs in the event of a stroke.
Facial paralysis is the most common cranial nerve disease; in around 75 percent of cases the cause is unknown. Known causes include infections as well as injuries, tumors or autoimmune diseases. In around 80 percent of patients, the nerve is completely restored within three to eight weeks.