Let's Talk Epilepsy!

Sophie was five when she began experiencing strange episodes of seizures. At first her guardians thought it was just a one time thing, but as the episodes persisted, It sent a red flag and after several doctor's visit, including test and various medical examinations carried out, Sophie was diagnosed with Epilepsy. EVER HEARD OF THE TERM, SEIZURE? Well, Let's dig into it! A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in behavior, movements or feelings, and in levels of consciousness. The fact is, anyone can have a seizure dependent on various factors which includes: High fever, head trauma, electrolytes imbalance, alcohol or drug withdrawal, or low blood sugar. Anything that interrupts the normal connections between nerve cells in the brain can cause a seizure. But, when one begins to have recurrent unprovoked episodes, then there is a problem! According to the World Health Organization(WHO), One seizure does not signify a disorder (up to 10% of people worldwide have one seizure during their lifetime). However, when a person experiences two or more episodes of recurrent unprovoked seizures, he or she is considered to have a Seizure Disorder also known as EPILEPSY. EPILEPSY: LET'S EXPLORE! The World health Organization, gives this disease condition a comprehensive definition and it states thus: "Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disease of the brain characterized by recurrent seizures, which are brief episodes of involuntary movement that may involve a part of the body (partial) or the entire body (generalized) and are sometimes accompanied by loss of consciousness and control of bowel or bladder function" I love this definition by the World health Organization, it is clear, comprehensive and concise! Research have also shown that Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the world! IS EPILEPSY PERTINENT TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE? Absolutely not! Epilepsy is a neurological condition that can affect any race or ethnic group, it is not specific on this matter. WONDERING WHAT GOES ON IN THE BRAIN DURING EPILEPTIC SEIZURES? If you have followed closely, then you will agree with me that the brain is the primary organ affected, leading to the neurological disorder, Epilepsy. The brain's cells communicate with the body by sending continuous electrical impulses from one cell to another. In epilepsy, this regular pattern is disrupted by sudden, unpredictable bursts of electrical energy between cells in one or more brain areas, akin to an electrical storm. This disruption can lead to changes in awareness, such as loss of consciousness, as well as altered sensations, emotions, and muscle movements. DEMYSTIFYING THE MYTHS ABOUT EPILEPSY February 14th marks International Epilepsy Day, a date that coincides with Valentine's Day, a celebration of love. Ironically, people with epilepsy often face stigma and discrimination, making it challenging for them to find love and acceptance in a world where their condition is frequently misunderstood. Below are the myths surrounding the condition. Myth: EPILEPSY IS CONTAGIOUS. Facts: Epilepsy is a neurological Non Communicable Condition, therefore one cannot catch epilepsy from another person. Myth: PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY ARE POSSESSED BY EVIL SPIRIT. Fact: Epilepsy is a neurological condition caused by abnormal brain activity. Myth: ONE MIGHT SWALLOW THEIR TONGUE DURING EPILEPSY. Fact: Definitely not, the tongue cannot be swallowed during Epilepsy. Myth: PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY ARE MENTALLY ILL, DISABLED AND NOT ABLE TO WORK. Fact: people with epilepsy are not disabled, mentally ill and are able to have rewarding careers. Myth: EPILEPSY CANNOT BE CONTROLLED. Fact: With the right treatment and medication, Epilepsy can be controlled. According to an article published by Seer Medical, Medication is enough to control seizures in more than 70% of cases. For others, surgery or implantable devices may be an option depending on what part of the brain is affected. Myth: PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY CANNOT LIVE NORMAL LIVES. Fact: With the right knowledge about their Condition and proper treatment, people with Epilepsy can live the productive and fufilled life they want. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT CLASSES OF EPILEPTIC SEIZURES? We have a The Generalized Onset Seizure, The Focal Seizure, and Unknown Onset Seizure. Let's take a look at them. GENERALIZED ONSET SEIZURE: Just as the name implies, "Generalized," this type of seizure affects both sides of the brain. And can be subcategorized into: Tonic-Clonic: This type of seizure is also known as The Grand Mal Seizure, it is a combination of both characteristics of Tonic and Clonic seizure, Just like it's name. In a Tonic Seizure, there is loss of consciousness causing the individual to fall to the ground, stiffening of the muscle, violent contraction, followed by a groan as air is forced pass the vocal cords. While a Clonic Seizure, is accompanied by repetitive, rhythmic jerky movement on both sides of the body, which slowly comes to a halt in few minutes. In a Tonic clonic seizure, the Tonic phase presents first, followed by the clonic phase. Absence Seizure: The individual often appear as if they are day dreaming, the individual suddenly blanks out and stares into space. There is a brief and sudden lapse in attention without warning. Well, it typically last for few seconds or minutes. Myoclonic Seizure: It is called MYO-clonic because the muscles are affected, having it tone increased. The Person having this kind of seizure, experiences a sudden twitching and jerking muscle movement. More like, they are being jolted by electricity. An interesting fact about this type of Seizure according to an article by Cedars Sinai, is that Myoclonic seizures often happen in everyday life. This includes hiccups and a sudden jerk while falling asleep. The condition is not epilepsy unless there are more than two seizures happening repeatedly over time. Atonic Seizures: Atonic, which simply means without tone, it Involves a sudden loss of muscle tone, causing the person to go limp and often fall down. It is sometimes called "Drop Attack." Furthermore, we have the Tonic and the Clonic Seizure, and it has been explained above. Now FOCAL ONSET SEIZURE: Formerly, they are known as partial seizures. Unlike the generalized seizures, they affect only one side of the brain and body and tend to be less severe. Interesting fact- The region of the brain affected, can be detected by the symptoms exhibited during this seizure. They also have subcategories which includes: Focal Aware Seizures: formerly known as simple partial seizures. During this seizure the person remains fully conscious and aware. Symptoms experienced may include unusual sensations such as tingling, hallucinations, unpleasant smell or taste, nausea or a sense of déjà vu. Motor symptoms might include twitching or jerking of a specific part of the body, pointing e.t.c Focal Impaired Awareness Seizures: Formerly known as complex partial seizures. Now, unlike the Focal Aware Seizure, This type affect consciousness, causing the person to become confused or unaware of their surroundings. Strange symptoms can include staring, repetitive movements (such as hand rubbing, lip-smacking, or walking in circles), and sometimes emotional or behavioral changes. UNKNOWN ONSET SEIZURE: Why is it called unknown? Well, that's because, it is a type of seizure that was not witnessed by someone when it started. This type of seizure happens most likely when the individual is asleep or when they are alone. But, as the details of the seizure becomes clear, it can then be classified as either Generalized or Focal. CAN ONE PREDICT WHEN HE OR SHE IS ABOUT TO HAVE A SEIZURE? Well, most people with Epilepsy may experience warning signs before an episode occur, and predict, allowing the individual to take precaution. However, not everyone experiences this warning signs. This will lead us to explore the phases of Epileptic seizure. Let's dig! Prodromal Stage: During the prodromal stage some people can tell when a seizure is about to happen. They may observe some early signs, hours or even days before the seizure starts. Not all people experience this stage, though. Some common signs can include: Mood changes Anxiety Feeling lightheaded Difficulty sleeping Difficulty staying focused. Aura Stage: Auras are generally considered like a "warning bell" that a seizure is about to happen. These stage can last for about a few seconds to few minutes, follow by a seizure. These symptoms accompanying these stage may include: Déjà vu (a sense that something has happened before when in fact it hasn’t) Jamais vu (a feeling that you’re seeing something you know well for the first time) Visual abnormalities. Headache e.t.c Ictal Stage: Talking about this stage, we can tag it as the phase of "The actual seizure itself". The Period from which a Seizure occur to the point where it ends. During this period, there's intense electrical activities in the brain. Some of the signs an individual may experience includes: Loss of awareness Memory lapse Felling confused Difficulty hearing Odd smells, sounds or tastes Difficulty speaking or saying strange words Twitching Loss of muscle control Repeated movements (such as lip smacking or chewing) Post-Ictal: This is a period after the seizure, where the individual may appear disoriented, unconscious, frustrated, loss of bowel or bladder control e t c. WHAT CAUSES EPILEPSY? Brain damage, which might have resulted during birth of a child. Severe head trauma. Infection of the brain, such as: meningitis(and this is a serious Infection that causes the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord to be inflamed), Encephalitis(This is an inflammation of the brain tissue itself) Brain tumor. Genetic syndrome. And sometimes the cause of Epileptic is idiopathic(unknown). HOW DOES ONE KNOW IT IS EPILEPSY FOR SURE? Let's quickly run through the diagnosis of Epilepsy: A Specialist might want to run some tests to get a better idea of what's going on in the brain. They might suggest an electroencephalogram (EEG) to check the brain's electrical activity, or a brain scan (like a CT or MRI) to look for any issues in the brain. These tests can help them figure out what's causing the recurring Seizures and symptoms and come up with the best treatment plan. CAN EPILEPSY BE CURED? Epilepsy is a neurological condition that is considered a chronic condition, meaning that it cannot be cured in the literal sense. However, there are various treatments that can help manage the condition, reduce the frequency and severity of seizures, and improve the quality of life for people with epilepsy. Some of the possible treatments for epilepsy include: - Medicines: Anti-seizure medications, which with the right dosage can help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures. - Surgery: Epilepsy surgery may be an option for those whose seizures are not controlled by medication. The surgery involves removing the part of the brain that is causing the seizures. - Therapies: There are several therapies that can help manage epilepsy, including vagus nerve stimulation, deep brain stimulation, and responsive neurostimulation. - Ketogenic diet: A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet may help reduce seizures in some people with epilepsy. It's important to note that what works best for one person with epilepsy may not work for another, so it's important to work with a healthcare provider to find the most effective treatment plan. FIRST AID: HOW DO I HELP A PERSON DURING EPILEPTIC SEIZURES? Very quickly, let's walk through the Dos and Don'ts if someone is experiencing an episode of Epileptic seizure. THE DOs DURING EPILEPSY: SAFETY FIRST: Clear the area around them of any objects that could cause injury. A soft pillow can be placed under their head as well to avoid injury. CLEAR AIRWAY: To achieve this, remove all tight clothing, and accessories around the chest and neck. PROPER POSITIONING: Gently turn the individual to their sides to aid their breathing and keep their airway open. Another advantage of doing is to prevent the stomach content from entering the lungs, in a case where the individual vomit. TIMING: keep track of the seizure's timing to know how long it last. If the seizure last longer than five minutes, then promot emergency medical help should be sort for. AFTER THE SEIZURE. Stay with them until they are fully conscious and aware of their surrounding. An Epileptic Seizure can be a traumatic experience for the individual involved, leaving them with the feeling of anxiety, shame, overwhelmingness e.t.c. Offering emotional support will go a long way in helping to soothe the feelings. Do not forget to check for injuries that might have occurred during the seizure. THE DON'Ts Do not restrain the person experiencing the seizure as this might cause them Injury. Do not insert any object into their mouth as it can be swallowed, causing choking and mouth injury. Do not forcefully hold them down or try to prevent the jerking, simply try to avoid them from injuring themselves. Do not give anything to drink or eat in an attempt to stop the seizure. ROUNDING UP: With a deep understanding of Epilepsy, appropriate treatment, and healthy living, individuals with the condition can lead fulfilling and productive lives. By promoting awareness and sharing accurate information, we can reduce stigma, foster a supportive environment, and empower people with epilepsy and their loved ones to thrive.