HT Cafe

All about epilepsy

- HTC

Epilepsy and seizures carry a stigma that can be frightenin­g to others who do not fully understand the disorder. DR GAUTAM TRIPATI, MD, DM, DNB, Neurology, Consultant Neurologis­t, Neurocare Centre, Ghatkopar West, Dr LH Hiranandan­i Hospital, Powai

Epilepsy not only affects a person, but also has a deeper impact on their family members. It affects the person’s emotional well-being and takes a huge toll on their mental health. Epilepsy treatment needs to take into considerat­ion cognitive problems, psychiatri­c comorbidit­ies and psychosoci­al complicati­ons.

FIRST AID STEPS

Ensure that the person lies l on the floor.

Turn the person gently onto l one side.

Loosen ties or anything l around the neck.

Clear the area of any hard or l sharp objects.

Put something soft and flat l

under their head.

Remove their eyeglasses. l

Make a note of the duration l from when the seizure lasts Keep yourself and other l

people calm.

A person can live with epilepsy nowadays as there is an increased awareness and care for patients that can help restore their self-confidence and inculcate a feeling of happiness. As the saying goes, ‘We don’t know how strong we are until being strong is the only choice we have.’

There are several treatment options available for epilepsy, ranging from oral medication­s to surgery. For intractabl­e seizures — when you continue to have seizures with two or more antiepilep­tic medication­s, epilepsy brain surgery can offer relief and a person can live seizure free with less drugs.

Disclaimer: The veracity of any health claim made in the above article is the responsibi­lity of the concerned doctor/hospital

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 ?? PHOTO: HTCS ??
PHOTO: HTCS

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