TV Host Avri Gilad Reveals Bell's Palsy Diagnosis

Israeli TV personality Avri Gilad announced on his Facebook page that he has been diagnosed with Bell's palsy, a condition causing paralysis on one side of the face. Gilad described waking up to find half his face "completely crooked" and being unable to close one eye, experiencing symptoms like drooling and dryness in the eye. He has seen doctors, received medication, and been told the condition may or may not resolve.

Gilad is contemplating how to proceed with his life given his condition, questioning whether to continue as usual, become stressed, or view it as a challenge. He humorously referred to the condition as "Michal Ansky's syndrome," noting that other public figures like singer Anna Zak and "Yedioth Ahronoth" reporter Rotem Isaac have also suffered from it.

Bell's palsy is a common neurological condition affecting the facial nerve, with unknown causes in most cases, though theories include herpes virus infection, stress, injury, or diabetes. It affects approximately 20 in 100,000 people annually, typically between ages 15 and 45. Symptoms can appear suddenly or gradually and may be mistaken for a stroke.

Despite the concerning diagnosis, Gilad expressed a positive outlook, stating he is "happy to be crooked" and hopes the condition will pass within days. He attributed the paralysis to excessive gum chewing, which he believes caused inflammation in the facial nerve. He acknowledged that in rare cases, the paralysis is permanent and joked about the possibility of needing to get used to his appearance or being removed from his professional roles.