Following the national awareness of epilepsy week, here are some common misconceptions surrounding the condition.Here are some myths about epilepsy:
* Epilepsy is contagious – you can catch it.
Epilepsy is not a disease or illness. It is a condition in which there are recurrent seizures.
* People with epilepsy are mentally ill or retarded.
Although epilepsy is related to the brain, it does not indicate that a person is mentally ill or mentally retarded. Epilepsy is a physical condition and is not related to mental illness or intelligence.
* During a seizure, people will swallow their tongue and suffocate.
It is physically impossible to swallow your tongue, yet many people will try to help a person having a seizure by forcing their mouth open and trying to hold their tongue. This is potentially dangerous both to the person helping (they may get bitten) and the person having the seizure (they may have their teeth damaged). However, a person should be rolled on their side during a convulsive seizure to ensure that their airway is not blocked.
* All seizures involve convulsions in which the victim becomes rigid and shakes.
There are many different types of seizures involving different parts of the brain. Depending on which part of the brain is involved, there will be different physical symptoms. For example, a seizure victim may experience sudden loss of muscle definition, blank stares, rapid blinking, intense emotional and/or physical sensations (e.g. fear, joy, unpleasant sights or smells).
* You can stop a seizure by holding someone down.
You can’t physically stop a seizure, and restraining someone might lead to injury. During a seizure, ease the person to the floor or away from sharp or hard objects, and loosen the shirt collar if necessary.
* All seizures are caused by epilepsy.
Other medical conditions that can cause seizures include diabetes, brain infections, heat exhaustion, pregnancy, poisoning, hypoglycemia, high fever and head injury.
Post published in: Analysis