The Truth About Epilepsy

Today, I want to blog about Epilepsy, a chronic condition affecting almost 300,000 U.S. children under the age of 14. It affects children of different ages, race, and socioeconomic backgrounds in various ways. For some, it will be a temporary problem, easily controlled with medication. For others it may be a lifelong challenge.

It is important for individual with epilepsy and for families of children with epilepsy to speak with their primary physician and specialist about new drugs and treatments for epilepsy.

It is also important to educate the public, including some health care professionals about epilepsy:

Myth: People with epilepsy can not do the same things that other people can do, and need supervision.
Fact: Most people with epilepsy can do almost everything that any other person without supervision can do. You can find successful people with epilepsy everywhere.

Myth: During an attack of epilepsy restrain the person and prevent them from moving. Put a spoon in the mouth of the person so they do not swallow their tongue.
Fact: Never restrict the movements of a person having a seizure, and never put anything in the mouth of the person.

Myth: During an attack you can swallow your tongue.
Fact: It is impossible to swallow your tongue during a seizure. No need to put a spoon or anything else in the mouth. This myth may be harmful to the person having the attack. Just put something soft or padded under their head and gently put the person on their side.

Myth: Women with epilepsy should not get pregnant.
Fact: The risk of birth defects among women with epilepsy is not higher than the U.S. average. This risk can be reduced further if women with epilepsy speak with their doctor before becoming pregnant.

Myth: People can control their actions during an attack.
Fact: The attacks are involuntary. People usually can not control their actions during an attack.

Myth: Most people are conscious during the attack.
Fact: Most people are unconscious during the attacks and do not know what happens.

Myth: People with epilepsy can be violent.
Fact: If you try to immobilize a person having a seizure, the person may have a natural reflex, but involuntary to protect themselves. Instead of holding the person, speak quietly and protect from situations where there may be hurt.

Myth: People who have seizures are drunk or drugged.
Reality: No. Some attacks may seem as if the person was under the influence of alcohol or drugs. For example, symptoms such as slurred speech, incoherence, repetitive behavior, and the like can be confused with the outward signs of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Myth: Epilepsy is contagious.
Fact: You can not catch epilepsy and/or infect another person.

Myth: Epilepsy is caused by demon possession, punishment for sins or witchcraft.
Fact: Epilepsy is a treatable medical condition. It can be caused by anything that damages brain cells, such as a stroke, brain tumors and infections, head injuries, and problems before or during birth.

First Aid for Epilepsy
• Stay calm
• Cushion the head
• Loosen tight clothing
• Place the person on their side
• DO NOT put anything in the mouth
• Find some identification
• Do not hold the person
• Offer help after the attack ends

When to call 911 at
• The seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.
• The person has multiple attacks.
• If is a woman and she is pregnant.
• If they have another medical condition (diabetes..)
• The person does not regains consciousness

For more information about epilepsy, please visit the National Epilepsy Foundation at www.efa.org

I hope that this information is of good use and I want to thank you all for continue reading my blog!

About the Author:
Helen E. Dao is the President and CEO at her company Dao Management Consulting Services, Inc. (www.daoconsultingservices.com) Helen has been working on cultural diversity and public health strategies development for 11 years. You can follow her on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/#!/daoconsulting and @ her blog http://daoconsultingservices.blogspot.com/

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13220

This is a very interesting topic, it affects about 10 million people worldwide...please read it and share it with your colleagues...

http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13220

Helen Dao, MHA