Q I heard that a blood vessel presses on the nerve. Why does that suddenly happen?
A The root of the facial nerve as it emerges from the brainstem lies very close to blood vessels. With aging or conditions such as high blood pressure, the vessels become more tortuous and continuously irritate the nerve. As this irritation accumulates, the nerve becomes overexcitable and spasms begin.
Detailed Answer
The Root Exit Zone (REZ), where the facial nerve leaves the brainstem, is a vulnerable point where central and peripheral myelin transition. When a small artery (most often the posterior inferior cerebellar artery or the anterior inferior cerebellar artery) repeatedly contacts this area, the myelin is damaged and abnormal electrical signals arise. When blood vessels lose elasticity due to high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, or vascular aging, this compression can become more severe. This is why the condition usually develops in people in their 40s to 60s and older.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Korean medicine understands that, even before any structural problem with the blood vessels, accumulated blood stasis (eohyeol) and phlegm-fluid (dameum) inside the body block meridian circulation and weaken the tissues around the nerve. Resolving blood stasis (detoxification) and opening the meridians supports reducing the irritation placed on the nerve and easing its overexcitable state.
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