The World Purple Day is a global event started with the purpose of increasing awarenes about epilepsy. Purple is the international colour for epilepsy.
The bad news is that 50 million people worldwide are said to have been diagnosed with epilepsy. But the good news is that it can be managed if diognosed and treated properly.
There are many social stigmas attributed to epilepsy due to ignorance, lack of education and awareness.
Medical science tells us that epilepsy is a neurological condition affecting the brain. It is also a physical condition, because the body is affected when a person gets a seizure.
The Greek philosopher Hippocrates (460-377 BC) was the first person to think that epilepsy starts in the brain.
Seizures are said to happen when there is a sudden interruption in the way the brain normally works. However, the brain function is mormal in between siezures.
We get a list of 13 myths about epilepsy as given by www.valleychildren.org:
Myth 1: If you’ve had a seizure, you have epilepsy.
Fact: A seizure, provoked by binge drinking, sleep deprivation or a new medication, is not related to epilepsy
Myth 2: People with epilepsy are mentally ill or emotionally unstable.
Fact: It is a functional, physical problem, not a mental one, and it has many unidentifiable causes.
Myth 3: People with epilepsy aren’t as smart as other people.
Fact: Epilepsy has little to no effect on a person’s ability to think, except during some seizures, during a short period.
Myth 4: People who have seizures can’t handle high-pressure, demanding jobs.
Fact: It is a matter of accommodating them.
Myth 5: It’s easy to tell when a seizure is about to happen.
Fact: We can’t yet predict when it may happen
Myth 6: Seizures hurt.
Fact: The person is unconscious and not in any pain during most seizures. Afterwards the patient may feel some discomforts such as muscle pain or body ache.
Myth 7: Epilepsy is most common in children.
Fact: Epilepsy is most common in both the very young and the elderly. It can develop at any age.
Myth 8: During a seizure, a person could swallow or choke on his or her tongue.
Fact: Impossible. The worst thing that can happen during a seizure is that a person could bite his or her tongue.
Myth 9: You should force something into the mouth of someone having a seizure.
Fact: Never put anything into a person’s mouth if they are having a seizure. This could actually injure them. Roll the person on one side, keep him or her a safe distance from any nearby objects, and let the seizure run its course. If you see any signs of distress or if the seizure persists for more than a couple of minutes, call doctor.
Myth 10: Epilepsy can’t be controlled effectively.
Fact: There are many ways to treat, minimize, control and even — under the right conditions — eliminate epilepsy. With anti-epileptic medications, it’s possible to control epileptic seizures adequately in almost 70% of patients. The remaining 30% are possible candidates for surgery, but it depends on where the epilepsy originates in the brain.
Myth 11: Women with epilepsy can’t or shouldn’t get pregnant.
Fact: Epilepsy does not generally affect a woman’s ability to conceive and has a minimal effect on a child’s development. However, if women are taking anti-epileptic drugs, the risk of birth defects ranges from 2% to 10%. “This is a bigger concern,” Dr. Najm says. People can minimize the risk by working closely with a neurologist and Ob/Gyn.
Myth 12: People with epilepsy will pass it on to their kids.
Fact: “Kids of parents with some forms of epilepsy are at higher risk of developing it, but the risk is very low,” Dr. Najm says. This is because a single gene problem rarely causes epilepsy; it usually involves a combination of multiple gene defects.
Myth 13: You can’t live a full, normal life with epilepsy.
Fact: Epilepsy can affect a person’s lifestyle, but you can live a full life, Dr. Najm says. “Live your life, but live with moderation. Avoid extremes in lifestyle.”
In addition, there is superstition among uneducated people that epileptic fits are caused by evil spirits.
Doctors point out that anyone can have a seizure if the circumstances are right, but most people do not have seizures under ‘normal conditions’.
