Medical myths of epilepsy — Epilepsy treatment at Helicopteros Sanitarios Hospital
19/02/2023Epilepsy stigma and psychological distress have been shown to negatively impact quality of life. By providing people with information about epilepsy, one can help reduce the stigma associated with the condition. In this article, we tackle a few epilepsy myths and all about our epilepsy treatment at Helicopteros Sanitarios Hospital.
1. Anyone who experiences seizures has epilepsy.
Epilepsy is the most common seizure disorder, but there are others. Other conditions may have different causes, but epilepsy is caused by abnormal brain electrical activity.
Low blood sugar or heart issues can cause non-epileptic seizures.
Dissociative seizures, also known as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), are the type of non-epileptic seizure that occur the most frequently.
2. Those who have epilepsy are unable to work
This is a common misunderstanding. Epilepsy patients who take medication can work. Pilots and truck drivers are the only occupations that disqualify seizure disorder sufferers.
3. Epilepsy is contagious
Epilepsy is not contagious, but this myth persists, especially in some countries.
Although experts know epilepsy cannot spread, identifying the cause is difficult. The WHO estimates that 50% of cases worldwide have an unknown cause.
4. Epileptics are unstable emotionally.
This is untrue. Epileptics are not emotionally unstable. It is unsettling to have a seizure disorder and to be aware that a seizure can occur at any time, but the vast majority of epilepsy patients are happy, and the vast majority of epilepsy cases can be easily controlled using monotherapy, which is the term for taking only one seizure medication.
5. Epilepsy is classified as a mental illness.
The medical condition known as epilepsy is not considered a mental disorder. Most epilepsy patients don't have mental health issues. People who have severe and uncontrolled epilepsy are the only ones who typically experience psychological complications as a result of their condition.
6. Whenever an epileptic has a seizure, they all become unconscious and convulse.
Not all epilepsy patients lose consciousness and convulse. Not all seizures cause jerking or shaking. Seizures come in over 40 varieties. For instance, someone may wander around confused or go "blank" for a few seconds.
7. Seizures are best restrained.
This is a typical myth as well. There is no need to restrain a patient who is having a seizure because the majority of seizures only last between 30 and 90 seconds.
On the other hand, it is not unreasonable to look at things from someone else's perspective. In addition, filming the seizure may be helpful to the doctor in determining how best to treat the individual in the future.
8. Epileptic seizures hurt.
Seizures rarely cause ictal pain. 0.9% of 5,133 patients at Philadelphia's Jefferson Comprehensive Epilepsy Centre had ictal pain.
On the other hand, some people might feel discomfort after having a seizure. This may be caused by prolonged muscle contractions or a seizure-related fall.
Some people get headaches before, during, or after seizures.
9. Strobe lights always cause epilepsy seizures.
Strobing lights only cause seizures in photosensitive epileptics.
Photosensitive epilepsy accounts for 5% of epilepsy cases. These people can have seizures from more than strobe lighting. Moving patterns and shapes may also set them off.
10. Epileptics should not get pregnant.
In spite of the fact that this is not the case, medical professionals consider pregnancies in people who experience seizures to be fraught with danger. This indicates that they will need to visit their obstetrician a few more times than individuals who do not suffer from a seizure disorder during their pregnancy.
11. Seizures often cause tongue swallowing.
This myth goes beyond epilepsy. It's impossible to swallow one's tongue.
The individual, however, runs the risk of cracking their teeth or otherwise damaging them in some other way if they experience a seizure. In addition to this, they might bite their lips or tongue.
12. No treatments help epilepsy
To our relief, this too is merely a myth. There is currently no cure for epilepsy; however, there is a wide variety of treatments that can help. Below we list the options you have when you get our epilepsy treatment at Helicopteros Sanitarios Hospital.
Epilepsy treatment at Helicopteros Sanitarios Hospital
Our epilepsy treatment at Helicopteros Sanitarios Hospital consists of anti-convulsant medications, special diets (which are typically administered in addition to anti-convulsant medications), and surgery.
Anti-seizure medications
About sixty percent to seventy percent of people who have epilepsy can have their seizures controlled by anticonvulsant medication. The treatment for epilepsy with anti-convulsant medication is individualised.
Diet as treatment
Diets high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates are the two most common diets that are sometimes recommended for people who have epilepsy. The ketogenic diet and the modified Atkins diet are examples of these types of diets.
Surgical procedures
In the event that anti-seizure medications are unable to control your seizures, as well as in the event that your seizures are severe and disabling, your healthcare provider may recommend surgery.