According to the World Health Organization (WHO), epilepsy affects approximately 50 million people worldwide, with 80 percent of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
Seizures are the primary symptom of most epilepsy patients. It is a state of increased electrical activity in the brain. Where electrical activity increases in the brain, parts of the body are affected accordingly.
However, many myths and facts about epilepsy have been confused. In this article, we’ll discuss 13 myths about epilepsy with the help of Dr. Clifford Siegel, a neurologist at Providence St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
1) Someone who has seizures must have epilepsy: Although seizures are probably the most common symptom of epilepsy, it is not the only one, for example, low blood sugar or medical problems with the heart can also cause seizures.
2) It is not correct to say that epileptics cannot work.
3) Epilepsy is contagious.
4) Epileptics are emotionally unstable.
5) Epilepsy is a mental illness: This is also wrong, epilepsy is not a mental illness. While the majority of people living with epilepsy do not experience any cognitive or psychological problems, epilepsy becomes a mental illness when the epilepsy becomes severe and uncontrolled.
6) All epileptics lose consciousness: Not all epileptics lose consciousness during a seizure. Each one is different.
7) If someone is having a seizure, you should force something into their mouth: this can be a dangerous practice. It can injure the teeth or jaw.
8) Better to stop when someone is having a seizure: This is another hypothesis. Most seizures last 30-90 seconds and there is no need to tie or restrain the seizure patient.
9) Seizures in epilepsy are painful.