Can Epilepsy Be Prevented?
Author: B Krishan
Indeed, some of the causes of epilepsy are preventable. Utmost
care should be taken at the time of delivery so that brain/
skull injury to the newborn is avoided.
However, head injuries, at all ages, should be avoided, so as
to prevent the occurrence of traumatic epilepsy, both following
the injury or later. The use of helmets is advisable, especially
while traveling on two-wheelers. However, while driving cars or
any other vehicle, all precautions must be taken to safeguard
against accidents.
Since the disease also occurs following the intake of infected
pork, either one should abstain from taking pork, or take it
when it is absolutely safe, and has been cooked properly and
thoroughly.
Consumption of alcohol should be avoided. Epilepsy is said to
be three times more common among alcoholics than in
non-alcoholics. Both excessive drinking or even moderate
drinking of alcohol may precipitate an attack of. epilepsy.
There is a word of advice for alcoholics. For those who are
addicted to alcohol for a long time, in such cases, alcohol must
be withdrawn very gradually, otherwise it is very likely that an
attack of epilepsy may be precipitated.
The same is true when someone is addicted to a sedative as a
result of drug abuse. Such drugs should also be reduced
gradually.
In all cases of diabetes, a strict control of blood sugar is
required. It is seen sometimes, when a patient takes
antidiabetic drugs in more than the required quantity, or takes
reduced diet with the usual dose of the antidiabetic drug, there
occurs a sudden fall in blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), which may
cause in a small percentage of cases, generalized epileptic
convulsions. Hence a proper control of diabetes is essential for
the prevention of convulsions. In such cases, there will be no
aura, i.e., warning signals/symptoms, before an attack of
epilepsy is precipitated.
Fever in children should be controlled as a prevention of
epilepsy. Convulsions as a result of fever constitute an
important precipitating factor, and may necessitate a long-term
course of antiepileptic drugs, especially in children who have a
positive family history of epilepsy, and/or whose EEG findings
are suggestive of the disease. Hence all care must be taken to
control high fever in children as a preventive measure against
epilepsy.
There are yet a few more precipitating conditions. An epileptic
may be sensitive to light stimuli; therefore, as a preventive
measure, such a patient should not face strong flashes/flickers.
All epileptics recall that when their EEG was recorded, at one
stage, the technician must have shown them a strong flash and
recorded the EEG. The idea is to evoke epileptic response in the
patient so that a positive reading can be obtained for the
diagnosis of the disease. Photosensitive epilepsy is a common
one and is found in almost 5-10% of all cases of epilepsy.
For the same reasons, an epileptic should be cautious while
watching TV. He should not view it at a stretch, and the room
should not be dark. A light in the room, preferably near the TV
set, must be on so that the effect of a flash, if any, can be
minimized. Besides flash, the patient may be sensitive to
different intensity/shades of light repeatedly appearing on the
television screen. However, the brightness/shades, etc. can be
adjusted in any television set, the one suitable/pleasing for
the patient should be used, and all the family members must co
operate with the patient who is watching TV at the same time.
Likewise, a child suffering from epilepsy may have difficulty
in reading a book, and thus a proper light must be adjusted for
the purpose. And if some print pattern in the book does not suit
the child, or any epileptic, irrespective of age, it should be
avoided, and the patient should be advised to read the book in
bold print. If possible, the pattern of the print should suit
him/her most. In other words, if a definite print pattern does
not suit an epileptic, that should be preferably avoided so that
an attack of epilepsy may not be precipitated. Parents have a
vital role to play to guide their children in such matters.
Similarly, if the patient is sensitive to a particular sound,
rough, loud or pleasant, it should be avoided.
About The Author: Author's Sites: http://www.easyhomeremedy.com
, http://shabi-home-remedies.blogspot.com ,
http://myshabi.blogspot.com
Author: B Krishan
Indeed, some of the causes of epilepsy are preventable. Utmost
care should be taken at the time of delivery so that brain/
skull injury to the newborn is avoided.
However, head injuries, at all ages, should be avoided, so as
to prevent the occurrence of traumatic epilepsy, both following
the injury or later. The use of helmets is advisable, especially
while traveling on two-wheelers. However, while driving cars or
any other vehicle, all precautions must be taken to safeguard
against accidents.
Since the disease also occurs following the intake of infected
pork, either one should abstain from taking pork, or take it
when it is absolutely safe, and has been cooked properly and
thoroughly.
Consumption of alcohol should be avoided. Epilepsy is said to
be three times more common among alcoholics than in
non-alcoholics. Both excessive drinking or even moderate
drinking of alcohol may precipitate an attack of. epilepsy.
There is a word of advice for alcoholics. For those who are
addicted to alcohol for a long time, in such cases, alcohol must
be withdrawn very gradually, otherwise it is very likely that an
attack of epilepsy may be precipitated.
The same is true when someone is addicted to a sedative as a
result of drug abuse. Such drugs should also be reduced
gradually.
In all cases of diabetes, a strict control of blood sugar is
required. It is seen sometimes, when a patient takes
antidiabetic drugs in more than the required quantity, or takes
reduced diet with the usual dose of the antidiabetic drug, there
occurs a sudden fall in blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), which may
cause in a small percentage of cases, generalized epileptic
convulsions. Hence a proper control of diabetes is essential for
the prevention of convulsions. In such cases, there will be no
aura, i.e., warning signals/symptoms, before an attack of
epilepsy is precipitated.
Fever in children should be controlled as a prevention of
epilepsy. Convulsions as a result of fever constitute an
important precipitating factor, and may necessitate a long-term
course of antiepileptic drugs, especially in children who have a
positive family history of epilepsy, and/or whose EEG findings
are suggestive of the disease. Hence all care must be taken to
control high fever in children as a preventive measure against
epilepsy.
There are yet a few more precipitating conditions. An epileptic
may be sensitive to light stimuli; therefore, as a preventive
measure, such a patient should not face strong flashes/flickers.
All epileptics recall that when their EEG was recorded, at one
stage, the technician must have shown them a strong flash and
recorded the EEG. The idea is to evoke epileptic response in the
patient so that a positive reading can be obtained for the
diagnosis of the disease. Photosensitive epilepsy is a common
one and is found in almost 5-10% of all cases of epilepsy.
For the same reasons, an epileptic should be cautious while
watching TV. He should not view it at a stretch, and the room
should not be dark. A light in the room, preferably near the TV
set, must be on so that the effect of a flash, if any, can be
minimized. Besides flash, the patient may be sensitive to
different intensity/shades of light repeatedly appearing on the
television screen. However, the brightness/shades, etc. can be
adjusted in any television set, the one suitable/pleasing for
the patient should be used, and all the family members must co
operate with the patient who is watching TV at the same time.
Likewise, a child suffering from epilepsy may have difficulty
in reading a book, and thus a proper light must be adjusted for
the purpose. And if some print pattern in the book does not suit
the child, or any epileptic, irrespective of age, it should be
avoided, and the patient should be advised to read the book in
bold print. If possible, the pattern of the print should suit
him/her most. In other words, if a definite print pattern does
not suit an epileptic, that should be preferably avoided so that
an attack of epilepsy may not be precipitated. Parents have a
vital role to play to guide their children in such matters.
Similarly, if the patient is sensitive to a particular sound,
rough, loud or pleasant, it should be avoided.
About The Author: Author's Sites: http://www.easyhomeremedy.com
, http://shabi-home-remedies.blogspot.com ,
http://myshabi.blogspot.com
