Buzz
Epilepsy, often referred to as seizure disorder, is a serious condition marked by sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain, which can alter how a person thinks, acts, or feels. Unfortunately, TV shows often depict this disorder inaccurately, exaggerating for entertainment value. Having personally experienced one of the more commercially recognizable forms of epilepsy, the best way to describe it would be to imagine tightening every muscle in your body as hard as you can, well past the point of discomfort. Can you feel the cramp? Now picture this: as your muscles tighten, you're repeatedly smashing your limbs and head against hard surfaces (definitely don’t try this). It's a harrowing sight to see someone struggling to stand, their muscles so strained by pain that it’s impossible. To help you understand epilepsy better, here’s a list of 15 facts I’ve gathered from research, personal experience, and treatment.
1 Facts 15-11
15. Around 400 BC, Hippocrates authored the first book on epilepsy, *On the Sacred Disease*. In it, he recognized epilepsy as a brain disorder and argued that those with epilepsy were not gifted with prophetic powers.
14. A single tonic-clonic seizure, also known as a grand mal seizure, lasting less than 5-10 minutes is not typically associated with brain damage. Contrary to the misconception that seizures cause lasting brain harm, these seizures are more commonly linked to head trauma.
13. It's impossible to swallow your tongue during a seizure; in fact, try swallowing your tongue right now. See? It's not possible.
12. Recent studies have sparked the belief that epilepsy may be closely connected to anxiety and depression.
11. Just as a diabetic might be mistaken for a drunk driver, people with epilepsy can sometimes have seizures that lead to strange behaviors, such as repeating words, not responding to questions, speaking nonsense, undressing, or screaming. (In my case, I was once perceived as a threat to an entire classroom during a seizure of this nature.)
2 Facts 10-6
In the early 1800s, individuals with severe epilepsy were often placed in asylums. One key reason for their separation from those with psychiatric conditions was the widespread, though false, belief that seizures were contagious.
Every person is born with a seizure threshold. A higher threshold means a lower likelihood of experiencing a seizure. However, various triggers—such as alcohol consumption, sleep deprivation, stress, illness, flickering lights, and hormonal fluctuations (particularly in women)—can decrease this threshold.
Around 30% of epilepsy cases have a known cause, while the remaining 70% are classified as idiopathic epilepsy, meaning the origin remains undetermined.
Approximately 1 in 20 individuals with epilepsy experience photosensitive seizures, where changes in light intensity or flickering light can provoke a seizure.
The official color representing Epilepsy Awareness is Lavender, with the specific Pantone color code PMS 2593.
Facts 5-1
In the early 20th century, several US states enacted laws that prohibited individuals with epilepsy from marrying or becoming parents, with some even allowing sterilization.
Seizures consist of three phases: the onset, middle, and conclusion. The onset, known as the aura, can include signs like unusual smells, sounds, tastes, lightheadedness, or sensations of déjà vu or jamais vu. The middle phase is the seizure itself, whether it's a grand mal or simple partial seizure. The final phase, the postictal phase, involves brain recovery, which can last from a few seconds to several hours and is often accompanied by confusion and memory loss.
The correct response to someone experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure is not as depicted on TV, where multiple people press their body weight onto the person having the seizure. Instead, focus on tracking how long the seizure lasts, clear away any objects that could be harmful, and gently block their movement to prevent them from going too far (or moving into potentially dangerous areas such as water or off a bed). After the seizure, turn them onto their side and refrain from putting anything in their mouth. If the seizure continues for more than five minutes, call an ambulance.
Diazepam, sold under the brand name Diastat, is used to manage prolonged seizures or a series of seizures. It comes as a gel in a plastic applicator, which unfortunately must be inserted rectally to administer.
Epilepsy is typically not a lifelong condition, with only about 25% of those who develop seizures experiencing seizures that are difficult to control. From my experience, those with lifelong seizure disorders often have more complex, underlying health issues.
