Several educational websites have posted a kind of epilepsy news that
isn’t really news at all. Organizations in the US and the UK are
combating common myths about epilepsy.
They’re correcting common misperceptions with accurate information
about epilepsy, its causes, treatment, and what it’s like to live with
this condition.
Some myths are very basic:
- you can ‘catch’ epilepsy from someone who has it
- people with epilepsy aren’t very smart
- epilepsy is a form of mental illness
- epilepsy isn’t contagious
- epilepsy is a physical condition, not a mental handicap
- epilepsy
is a medical condition that results from too much and disturbed
electrical discharge in the brain. It has far more in common with an
irregular heartbeat than it does with mental illness.
Common myths about what causes epilepsy include the belief that it’s a
congenital condition, present at birth, and it can’t be prevented. The
truth about epilepsy is that it can start at any time of life and that,
while no specific cause can be identified most of the time, severe head
injuries often cause seizures.
Since two very common causes of severe head injuries are car and
bicycle accidents, using car restraint systems and infant seats and
wearing helmets are crucial ways to prevent epilepsy.
A persistent myth is that people with epilepsy are in danger of
swallowing their tongues during a seizure, so anyone witnessing a
seizure should put a spoon or a similar object into the mouth of the
person with epilepsy.
This isn’t only wrong—it’s dangerous. It’s physically impossible to
swallow one’s own tongue, and trying to insert an object in the mouth
of someone having a seizure can cause injury.
Another myth is that seizures require emergency treatment. However,
unless they persist for more than five minutes or continue as a series
of repeated seizure, there’s usually no need for an ambulance. Nor can
you help someone ‘wake up’ or ‘snap out’ of a seizure.
The best thing to do is to stay calm, move any hard or sharp objects
away from the person having a seizure, and place something soft under
his head.
Some misinformed people believe that those who have epilepsy
shouldn’t drive, fly, or drink alcohol and aren’t allowed to marry. The
truth is, unless they’ve had a seizure within the last year, people
with epilepsy are safe to drive. They travel on airplanes like anyone
else.
Some people with the condition don’t drink alcohol because it makes
their seizures worse; others find that it makes no difference at all
whether or not they drink.
And, as for marriage, nothing about epilepsy prevents people who
have it from finding and marrying a special someone and living a long
and happy life together.
