HEALTHY LIVING What you need to know about photo sensitive epilepsy

Epilepsy is a concept many people are not familiar with as it is not the most common of alignment. However, to sum things up, a seizure triggered by light and visual patterns is known as photosensitive epilepsy.

Although it is more commonly associated with kids and young adults, females are more prone to have photo sensitive epilepsy. Many don’t know that it is actually an ailment until it reaches its peak when the seizures begin. The most common symptoms include dizziness, nausea and headaches.

According to Dr. Nathaniel Adewale of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja elaborated on the most common triggers which include, but are not limited to, bright screens from TV, desktop and laptop monitors, phone screens, flickering lights and intense lights from torch lights and such. Also, patterns such as stripes with bold colours are also triggers.

If you feel such symptoms and notice a frequency in seizures, there are a few things to keep in mind to keep it at bay such as reducing the time you spend staring at screens, invest in a pair of photochronic glasses, change the bulbs and switches in your home to dimmer ones like lumen bulbs that can easily be adjusted, reduce the brightness of your phone and TV so that you’re not straining yourself too much

However, the best thing to do is to consult a neurologist or psychiatrist who can do a series of investigations like EEG, CT scans of your brain to determine the activity and advise on the appropriate steps to take. Such people should avoid exposure to light and sudden flashes of it as well. This cannot be overly emphasized.

My wife has had five children, two miscarriages and is now two months pregnant and experiencing serious vomiting. Any time she’s pregnant, it is hell. She vomits more than 10 times a day. She nearly died at a time. She has now been diagnosed with ulcer. – Musa.

She is suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum. The ulcer is due to not eating well. From all indications, she has to be on admission.

Based on what she is passing through, it is advisable for her to do family planning after this delivery. She has five children alive, the sixth is on the way, what else does she want? To continuously risk her life? Please allow her start family planning, if possible, permanent contraception or at least a long acting contraceptive method.

She has to be alive to take care of the children. Remember that she is now a grandmultiparous woman. She is at further risk of postpartum haemorrhage.

I had a Caesarian Section (CS) for my last baby. I am now pregnant. The scan I did at 36 weeks put the baby at 3.2kg. Can I deliver normally? – Esther, Abuja.

When foetal weight is estimated it can be less or more by 0.5kg. Also, for our environment, for a foetal weight of 3.5kg or less, she can be allowed to have a trial of Vaginal Birth after Caesarean Section (VBAC). Foetal weight of above 3.5kg is counselled for possible elective CS because of the risk of uterine rupture. It is also worth noting that towards the end of pregnancy, foetus gains about 0.2kg/week.

You have to repeat the foetal weight estimation at between 38 and 40 weeks if you have not delivered, because by 40 weeks the baby might have gained between 0.6 to 0.8kg, and that will put the baby’s weight between 3.8 and 4.0kg. At this foetal weight, elective CS may be a better option.

I am a 33 years old with a hearing problem for over seven years. I also experience weakness on my left hand and leg and one of my eyes is smaller than the other, and I lose memory easily. – Mr. H.

You have to be seen for proper assessment to know if all these symptoms are linked. Is there any history of fever preceding the onset seven years ago, any form of injury or accident involving the head, are you on any long time medication, any history of substance abuse?

Concerning the hearing problem, the good news is that there are hearing aids to alleviate the problem. With the loss of memory or amnesia, see a neurologist.

I am 35 years old and I sweat consistently on my head. Sometimes, even when the weather is cool; especially if I fast, and this makes me drink a lot of water. – Bagudu

Excessive sweating is otherwise called hyperhidrosis. Sometimes it’s genetic. But there are other things that could result in hyperhidrosis, like hyperthyroidism, diabetes and obesity. See a physician.