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APPOINTMENT

Your Amazing Brain: Understanding Epilepsy

What is Epilepsy?

Our brains are composed of billions of tiny cells that communicate by exchanging chemicals with each other. This chemical flow generates electrical signals that travel along nerves to the rest of the body, enabling us to perform day-to-day activities. However, sometimes there is a sudden burst of electrical activity that causes a temporary communication problem among nerve cells, leading to seizures. These seizures disrupt normal body functions temporarily. In simple terms, epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures.

Seizures can manifest differently in individuals. Some people experience strong reactions where they pass out, fall to the floor, and their whole body stiffens and twitches uncontrollably. Others may have less noticeable seizures, characterized by staring into space or jerking movements in one part of the body. The variability in seizure types makes it crucial to understand the specific manifestations and triggers for each person.

What to Do During an Epilepsy Episode

If you encounter someone having an epilepsy episode, there are crucial steps to follow. First and foremost, there are actions you should never take:

Don’t Restrain Them – Never try to hold the person down or restrict their movements during the seizure. Restraining them can cause injury to both you and the person having the seizure.


Don’t Put Anything in Their Mouth – Contrary to popular belief, you should never place anything in the person's mouth, including your fingers or objects. They won’t swallow their tongue, and inserting something can cause choking or damage to their teeth and jaw.


Don’t Offer Food or Drink – Until the person is fully alert and recovered, don’t give them anything to eat or drink. They may still have difficulty swallowing, which can lead to choking.


Don’t Panic – While witnessing a seizure can be frightening, staying calm is critical. Most seizures only last a few minutes and resolve without medical intervention.


Don’t Leave Them Alone – While you shouldn’t interfere directly, make sure to stay with the person until the seizure is over and they are fully recovered. This helps ensure their safety and provides reassurance when they regain consciousness.

Instead, if possible, try to catch the person from falling to protect their head. Gently lower them down and keep them on their side to maintain open airways. Finally, call for medical help and stay with the person until assistance arrives.

Medical Treatment and Management

Once the patient is with a doctor, several tests may be performed. The doctor might prescribe medications or recommend a special diet, such as a ketogenic diet, which can help reduce the number of seizures. With the right treatment, over 70 percent of people with epilepsy may stop having seizures completely.

Living with Epilepsy

The good news is that with proper management, individuals with epilepsy can lead normal lives and achieve great success in their chosen fields. It's important to foster a supportive environment and encourage open discussions about epilepsy to dispel myths and stigma associated with the condition.

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