EpilepsyInfo - Content

A diagnosis of epilepsy may come as a shock and take some time to accept. Many people have little understanding of epilepsy itself and may even have mistaken ideas. However, by learning as much as possible about their condition, people with epilepsy can banish other people’s misconceptions and be informed, open and positive.

Epilepsy is a very common condition, like diabetes and asthma, and most of the 300,000 plus people in the United Kingdom with epilepsy live full and active lives.

FACT: Throughout history there have been many great and famous people with epilepsy - Charles Dickens, Vincent Van Gogh, Tchaikovsky, and Napoleon Bonaparte, to name just a few. Present day celebrities with the condition include film star, Danny Glover of ‘Lethal Weapon Fame’, rock star, Neil Young, and actor, Rik Mayall.

LIFE-STYLE:

Everyone’s epilepsy is different. The type of seizure experienced, and when, and how frequently seizures occur, will influence day to day decisions and the choices that people make about their life style. Sensible living is vital for people with epilepsy and involves being responsible and learning how to minimise the risk of a seizure.

Seizures often happen ‘out of the blue’ but there are some common factors, known as triggers, which can set them off in some people.
These include:

Stress, excitement, emotional upset: Some degree of stress is unavoidable, and is in fact healthy, but it is important that people with epilepsy who may experience more seizures at times of anxiety, stress or excitement, find ways to manage or cope with it. Learning relaxation techniques such as meditation can be useful. Yoga and complimentary therapies such as Aromatherapy may also help.

Late nights/Lack of Sleep: Lack of sleep due to shift work or crossing time zones when travelling can trigger seizures. An occasional late night should not cause a problem, but over-tiredness can affect some people and a regular sleep pattern is beneficial.

Photosensitivity: 5% of people with epilepsy are photosensitive, which describes sensitivity to flashing lights or to certain light patterns. Natural light sources, such as sunshine on water, can trigger a seizure in some people. Polarised sunglasses with side shades can help to reduce these effects. Artificial light sources, such as television and video games, can cause epilepsy in affected people and prolonged use is not recommended. Frequent breaks of at least 15 minutes every hour are advised. There are also recommended procedures for people with epilepsy who work with computers.

Food and Drink: Lack of food, leading to low blood sugar levels can trigger a seizure in some people and dieting is not recommended. Eating regularly and healthily is good for general health.

A recent Report on a substance called Aspartame, found in Nutra-sweet, and Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi and many other diet drinks, warns that among other dangers, Aspartame can damage the nervous system and cause severe seizures in some people.

Illness: Seizures are more likely when a person with epilepsy is unwell or has a high temperature.

Sickness and diarrhoea may affect anti-epileptic medication and the doctor should be consulted. In case of illness, a person living alone may choose to organise a call system with a neighbour or friends. Alcohol: Alcohol consumption at a moderate level should not be a problem for most people but excess alcohol can trigger a seizure - even in people without epilepsy.

Hormones: Hormonal change can affect epilepsy, and many people have their first seizure during puberty. Some women find that their seizures are linked to their menstrual cycle - a doctor can prescribe appropriate treatment. Any woman with epilepsy wanting to start a family should consult her doctor for pre-conceptual counselling.

MEDICATION: Over the last few decades, new drugs have been developed for epilepsy. For 4 out of 5 people seizures can be controlled by taking the correct medication regularly, in the right dose, and as near as possible to the times recommended. Doctors, dentists, and other health practitioners who are treating a person with epilepsy, should always be told about their condition and the medication that is being taken. It is important to have a sufficient supply of drugs at all times.

OTHER TREATMENTS

Surgery: People with certain types of seizures that begin in just one part of the brain can be helped by an operation to remove a small amount of brain tissue in the area involved. Scientists have developed new ways of using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) that can pinpoint the exact spot in the brain where epileptic seizures start.

Vagal Nerve Stimulation: The vagal nerve is one of the many nerves which carries messages to and from the brain. It is suggested that stimulation of the vagal nerve may be able to disrupt epileptic activity and an operation to insert a pulse generator, similar to a heart pacemaker, takes 1 to 2 hours. Vagal nerve stimulation is suitable for people with complex partial seizures or generalised seizures where consciousness is lost. It is also suitable for people who have epilepsy as a result of head injury and those with photosensitive epilepsy.

The Ketogenic Diet: The Ketogenic Diet was initially studied in the 1920’s as a treatment option for those with intractable epilepsy. New effective anti-epileptic drugs replaced the Diet but today it is again of interest. The Diet is high in fat, low in carbohydrates and protein, in addition fluids are limited. The ketotic state exerts an anti-epileptic effect, though the precise mechanisms of this action are not completely understood. This Diet should only be attempted under medical supervision.

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES: There is a growing body of opinion that alternative medicine, for example, Homeopathy, can help to improve the condition of many people with epilepsy. Prescribed medication should never be stopped abruptly and qualified medical advice should always be sought before any change is made.

SAFETY: Safety First: Statistically most accidents take place in the home, whether or not a person has epilepsy, and adapting surroundings to be as safe as possible is sensible for everyone. Anyone with epilepsy needs to consider the type of seizure experienced, what times they occur, and how often, when planning safety changes to their home, for example, people who experience night time seizures should choose a wide, low-level bed, a soft carpet, and have no furniture with sharp corners near the bed.

Leisure activities: With appropriate safety precautions and some commonsense, most people with epilepsy can participate in sports and leisure activities.

First Aid: Knowing what to do in the event of an epileptic seizure makes everyone feel more confident. Some people with the condition carry a special card or wear a tag or bracelet containing details of their condition - this is useful in case emergency services ever have to be called.

PRACTICALITIES: Driving: A person who has experienced a seizure must not drive by law until seizure-free for 12 months.

Working: Only a handful of jobs are actually barred by law to people with epilepsy and it is in principle illegal to discriminate against someone merely because they have epilepsy.

Free Prescriptions: In the U.K. people with epilepsy are eligible for free prescriptions for anti-epileptic medication and also for other prescribed drugs and should obtain an Exemption Certificate obtainable from surgeries, hospitals, or pharmacies.

Published on: 2007-05-18 (4540 reads)

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