How common is bell's palsy?

Not very: Bells palsy is not as uncommon as is generally believed. Worldwide statistics set the frequency at just over .02% of the population (with geographical variations). In human terms this is 1 of every 5000 people over the course of a lifetime and 40, 000 americans every year. (courtesy of the bells palsy web site).

Bell's Palsy: It occurs in approximately 40, 000 people in the usa each year. The following are risk factors: pregnancy, diabetes, cold or flu, weakened immune system, HIV infection, smoking, hypertension, ear infection, head or facial trauma, cancer history. It almost always leaves some residual weakness in the facial muscles. You should see and ent.