Epilepsy is a common condition that affects the brain and can cause frequent seizures. There are several myths associated with epilepsy. It is often noticed that when seizures occur, onlookers are unable or unwilling to provide much needed help.
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy can affect anyone with a brain. Each year 150,000 more people are diagnosed with epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a group of related disorders characterized by a tendency for recurrent seizures. There are different types of epilepsy and seizures. Epilepsy drugs are prescribed to control seizures, and rarely surgery is necessary if medications are ineffective. Seizures are abnormal movements or behavior due to unusual electrical activity in the brain. Seizures are a symptom of epilepsy, but not all people who appear to have a seizure have epilepsy.
Who gets epilepsy?
Anyone can develop epilepsy. Epilepsy affects both males and females of all races, ethnic backgrounds and ages.
What causes epilepsy?
In epilepsy, the electrical signals in the brain become scrambled and there are sometimes sudden bursts of electrical activity.
In most cases, it is not clear why this happens. It is possible it could be partly caused by your genes affecting how your brain works, as around 1 in 3 people with epilepsy have a family member with it.
Occasionally, epilepsy can be caused by damage to the brain, such as damage from:
• a stroke
• a brain tumour
• a severe head injury
• drug abuse or alcohol misuse
• a brain infection
• a lack of oxygen during birth
Symptoms of epilepsy
Seizures can affect people in different ways, depending on which part of the brain is involved.
Possible symptoms include:
• uncontrollable jerking and shaking, called a “fit”
• losing awareness and staring blankly into space
• becoming stiff
• strange sensations, such as a “rising” feeling in the tummy, unusual smells or tastes, and a tingling feeling in your arms or legs
• collapsing
Sometimes you might pass out and not remember what happened.
Doctors generally classify seizures as either focal or generalized, based on how the abnormal brain activity begins.
When to see a doctor?
Seek immediate medical help if any of the following occurs:
• The seizure lasts more than five minutes.
• Breathing or consciousness does not return after the seizure stops.
• A second seizure follows immediately.
• You have a high fever.
• You are experiencing heat exhaustion.
• You are pregnant.
• You have diabetes.
• You have injured yourself during the seizure.
If you experience a seizure for the first time, seek medical advice.
Diagnosis
Your doctor would carry out a detailed history and physical examination and arrange for a number of tests. Often you might be referred to a specialist if the diagnosis is in doubt.
Treatment
Doctors generally begin by treating epilepsy with medications. If medications do not treat the condition, doctors may propose surgery or another type of treatment.
Educate Others about Seizure First Aid
Show others how to take care of someone having a seizure. Seizure First Aid is simple – Three Ss: Stay, Safe, Side.
1. STAY with the person and start timing the seizure. Remain calm and check for medical ID.
2. Keep the person SAFE. Move or guide away from harmful objects.
3. Turn the person onto his or her SIDE if he or she is not awake and aware. Do not block airway. Put something small and soft under the head, and loosen tight clothes around neck.
4. Do NOT put anything in his or her mouth. Don’t give water, pills or food until the person is awake.
5. Do NOT restrain.
6. STAY with him or her until he or she is awake and alert after the seizure. Most seizures end in a few minutes.
When to Call 911
• Seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
• Repeated seizures
• Difficulty breathing
• Seizure occurs in water
• Person is injured, pregnant, or sick
• Person does not return to his or her usual state
• First time seizure
Myths about Epilepsy
There are many myths about epilepsy. The following are some common ones:
You can swallow your tongue during a seizure.
It is physically impossible to swallow your tongue.
You should force something into the mouth of someone having a seizure.
Absolutely not! That’s a good way to chip teeth, puncture gums, and even break someone’s jaw. The correct first aid is simple. Gently roll the person on one side and put something soft under his or her head for protection from injury.
You should restrain someone having a seizure.
Never use restraint! The seizure will run its course, and you cannot stop it. Simple first aid to prevent injury is best.
Epilepsy is contagious.
You cannot catch epilepsy from another person. Period.
Only kids get epilepsy.
Epilepsy happens to people over age 65 almost as often as it does to children age 10 and under. Seizures in the elderly are often the after effect of other health problems like stroke and heart disease.
People with epilepsy are disabled and cannot work.
People with epilepsy have the same range of abilities and intelligence as the rest of us. Some have severe seizures and cannot work; others are successful and productive in challenging careers.
People with epilepsy should not be in jobs of responsibility and stress.
People with seizure disorders are found in all walks of life and at all levels in business, government, the arts and other professions. We aren’t always aware of them because many people, even today, do not talk about having epilepsy for fear of what others might think.
You cannot die from epilepsy.
Epilepsy is still a very serious condition and individuals do die from seizures. Prolonged seizures (status epilepticus) can result in death.
People with epilepsy are physically limited in what they can do.
In most cases, epilepsy is not a barrier to physical achievement, although some individuals are more severely affected and may be limited in what they can do.
People with epilepsy are possessed by demons. Definitely not true.
Conclusion
Epilepsy is a common disorder that is related to abnormal activity in the brain. It can occur at all ages, including children and adults. Once diagnosed, many of the symptoms can be controlled by various medications. Many individuals can go on to live productive lives despite having the diagnosis of epilepsy.
Ask Your Dr is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge MB BS DGO MRCOG is an obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor with over thirty-six years in clinical practice. Dr Brett Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 497 5828).
