It was dinner at a school in California. A pretty tenth-grade student came down the stairs, accompanied by several of her classmates. Suddenly she fell to the ground. The muscles of the body are pulled.She briefly stopped breathing and her muscles contracted, shaking her body violently. Many of the classmates looked worried, completely shocked by what they had seen happen to the girl. It was an epileptic seizure.
How would you have reacted if the girl had been your classmate or acquaintance? Would you want to continue to treat her like a friend? Or would you think it was undesirable somehow? Would you like to be afraid of it and try to avoid it?
Past opinions and current attitudes
For thousands of years, it has often been thought that there is something magical or demonic about epilepsy. Epileptics have been accused of witchcraft and expelled. Holes were drilled in their heads and marked with hot iron to drive out evil spirits. Her disorder was considered a hereditary “daughter of the family” and mental retardation.
These views had continued into modern times and are enshrined in the laws of the land. Even in the 1950s, about a third of US states had laws restricting marriage to epileptics. Many states also had applicable sterilization laws. It was forbidden for epileptics to drive. And few companies would hire them.
Thus, the former director of the National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness, Dr Pearce Bailey, was prompted to observe: “Epilepsy is the only disease in which the person suffering from it is most handicapped by it. the attitude of the company that gives your handicap ”.
Fortunately, the outlook has improved in recent years. Almost all states have abolished sterilization laws that apply to epileptics, as well as laws that prohibit them from marrying. It is possible for people with epilepsy to obtain a driver's license in the United States; As early as 1937, Denmark allowed epileptics to obtain a driver's license. And now employers are more likely to hire them.
In line with the improved outlook, there are changes in public attitudes, which are reflected in US Institute of Public Opinion polls. In 1949, 57% of respondents said they would not object to their children playing with epilepsy, compared to 81% who in 1969 said they would not. When asked if they thought epilepsy was a form of insanity, in 1949, 59% answered "no", but in 1969, 81% answered "no". And in 1949, only 45% thought epilepsy should be used, while in 1969, 76% thought they should be used.
What do you think of these issues? Would you hesitate to associate with them(people suffering from) or would you allow your children to do so and perhaps think that such a disorder is necessarily caused by evil spirits?
What is epilepsy
Epilepsy is a term that covers several underlying conditions. But all of these conditions have one common symptom in common: recurrent seizures. And it has been shown that the different forms of epilepsy also have the dysfunction of certain brain cells in common.
By examining the brain, we learn that its cells emit electrical impulses. Electrical activation of brain cells is usually rhythmic and forms wave patterns. A machine has been invented that can take these wave patterns and record them on a moving paper tape. But in some people, the electrical activity of the brain is temporarily interrupted and incorrect messages are sent to the action centers of the body. This results in an epileptic seizure. But the brain disorder, sometimes called a "storm," quickly passes and the attack stops.
Here's how Dr. Louis D. Boshes: “Epilepsy is not a disease. It is a symptom that something is wrong with the brain, just as fever is not an illness or disease per se, but a symptom of an infection somewhere in the body. "
Far from being a rare disease, epilepsy is quite common. About 100 people are believed to be affected, most of them children. This equates to over two million epileptics in the United States! Additionally, millions more have had seizures at one time or another, but this is not classified as epilepsy because the seizures do not recur.
Although the unrest is very different in its manifestations, there are three main forms that the authorities often list. Each is associated with characteristic brainwave patterns, which reflect the type of electrical "storm" in the brain. The most serious form is experienced by the girl described in the introduction to the article. I was in a lot of pain, which most people consider to be a real seizure.
Although an attack of great pain can frighten the viewer, because the victim is unconscious, it is not painful and rarely causes injury. The tremors and palpitations in the body last only about a minute, although they may look longer. Then the person relaxes and after a few minutes they can resume their normal activities as if nothing had happened.
A second main form is the little evil, common in the age group of five to twelve years. But this form rarely continues into adulthood. It is characterized by short interruptions in consciousness that usually last between five and ten seconds. They can occur frequently, up to a hundred times or more a day. Eyes may roll back and slight twitching movements of the head or arms may occur, but the person does not fall. Immediately after the problem, the individual is mentally awake and can continue his activities.
Psychomotor seizures are the third leading form of epilepsy. They are characterized by stereotypical automatic movements or strange behaviors. The victim may appear "extinct" and participate in irrelevant activities. You can lift or pull clothes, examine objects around you or walk. Once, a patient was observed in a waiting room with an ashtray and transmitted it from person to person offering cigarette butts to everyone.
A psychomotor attack generally lasts only two to three minutes. So there is usually little or no memory of what happened. Only if the person is physically fit can they seem angry or stubborn.
Although brain cell dysfunction is the root of the problem, intelligence is not affected. Most people with epilepsy have average intelligence, some are bright, and like all sections of the population, some are below average.
Physical causes
What are the recurring "temporary" electrical causes in the brain that cause seizures? The point is that in most cases of epilepsy, the cause is unknown. But everything that damages nerve cells in the brain is responsible.
Therefore, the cause may be a stroke or a brain tumor. Infections can also be responsible. Viruses that cause measles, meningitis and other diseases can raise the spinal cord and affect the brain. Or an imbalance in body chemistry can be the source of the disorder. For example, a person's body may not have a certain enzyme that can cause irritation in the brain cells. Or a deficiency of pyridoxine, vitamin B6, may be responsible.
Although it is not known that emotional disorders cause epilepsy, they often cause seizures in people who already have them. Economic or internal problems, fear of crises or other disruptive factors can accelerate the attacks. In girls, seizures sometimes occur only in connection with the menstrual cycle, usually premenstrual.
Some people appear to be predisposed to epilepsy. It is this trend that seems to continue from generation to generation, although susceptibility to other diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, also seems to run in families. But epilepsy itself does not inherit. Therefore, the laws prohibiting marriage to epileptics have been largely repealed. A generally accepted opinion is that an epileptic has a fifty percent chance of having a child with epilepsy and one in two hundred non-epileptics.
Encourage Outlook
It is encouraging to see that children with epilepsy often recover from epilepsy with age. In addition, at least half of all epileptics can remain seizure-free. In 35% of cases, seizures can be significantly reduced. And the remaining 15% of epilepsy can also help. How is that possible?
It is mainly with anticonvulsant drugs. Twenty or more are currently available, of which phenobarbital and phenytoin sodium are the most widely used. Therapy involves finding the dose of a drug, or combination of drugs, needed to eliminate seizures, trying to avoid negative side effects as much as possible. The drugs work to supplement the body's natural chemical balance and thereby suppress abnormal electrical activity in the brain. But drugs are not remedies. They are taken regularly to prevent seizures, just as people with diabetes regularly inject insulin to stay healthy.
But to get the most benefit from drug therapy, healthy eyesight and a healthy lifestyle are essential. Relieves fear, frustration and anxiety that can cause seizures. And the best medicine for that is LOVE. An epileptic should feel loved and that others really care about him.
Good nutrition, rest, exercise and moderation are also important in all aspects of your life. Some epileptic seizures have been controlled with vitamin B6 and magnesium supplements.
When seizures are under control, an epileptic usually behaves like anyone else. Therefore, after a seizure-free period, usually one to two years, people with epilepsy can obtain a driver's license in the United States. It is right that they too have adequate jobs. After a large study, Dr Melvin M. Udell said he had found "no significant evidence showing a real difference between epileptics and others".
Help
If you're a relative, friend, or just know someone with epilepsy, you really want to be of help. And maybe the best way to do it is to treat an epileptic in the most normal way possible. Obviously, don't try to avoid it or treat it in any way as unwanted. Remember that epilepsy is simply due to physical dysfunctions, heart problems, and other similar ailments.
When it comes to children with epilepsy, don't be overly protective. Let them participate in other children's activities. This is because seizures rarely occur during physical activity, so the danger while playing is minimal. Of course, it is advisable to ban children who are subject to frequent attacks, such as riding horses and climbing trees.
What if I notice an adjustment? Keep calm. There is nothing you can do to stop it. Clean the area around the person so you don't hurt yourself, but don't try to interfere with their movements. If your mouth is open, you can place a soft object, such as a folded tissue, between your side teeth to avoid biting your tongue. But be careful when doing this so that your fingers don't bite. And when the attack is over, you can stand next to her and speak in a low, encouraging voice.