epilepsy is an annoying affection and a lot of people have to deal with it.
1 of 150 humans in the Netherlands suffer from some
kind of epilepsy. almost everyone has heard of epilepsy. Most of them
know it has to do with the brains. Only a few people know exactly what epilepsy
is. 400 years ago the great Greek scientist Hippocratic described this affection.
Since this time and our modern manhood thought different about epilepsy. In some
earlier time it was said, people with an epileptic attack had a connection with
god. In other times, people thought they were possessed by the devil. Of course
all of this is great nonsense. Because such an attack is a very common affection
and bystanders panic unnecessary – it is important to know more about
epilepsy. Because epilepsy has to do with the brains, we make a trip to that
particular part of our head..
2. How the brans are working
Without brains
you cannot live. The function of your brains is vitally important for your body
and your mind. The major part of the brain consist of nerve- cells [about 10 –
15 milliard] Under
a microscope you can see, that it has a few twigs [axon] and one long twig. The
long twig [axon] can be 1 meter long. The nerves are constantly sending
information by electric impulses. Nerves are the communication lines from your
body. The brains have two ways to get the information. From the outside [via
your sense organs] and from the inside [via organs, like your liver or your
stomach.] the
messages to your brain are very different. Your eyes can see the bread on the
table and your stomach tells you that he is empty and can use something.
3. How does it work
Your brains get
the information through by a prickle. An electric impulse through the nerves. In
the same way they send information to the muscles or glands in
your body. The muscles or glands which get such a prickle from a
nerve-cell get active. Of course, you know the importance of your brain. If
there is an interruption , it has consequences for you and your surrounding. A permanent
failure can be caused by an accident or illness. For instance; a part of your
brains does not work at all, because it gets into a scrape and you can get
paralyzed..Eepilepsy has also to do
with a failure in your brains, but the big difference with an illness or an
accident is, that an epileptic attack is usually very short and afterwards the
patient is quite all right. An epileptic attack causes no brain damage.
4. An epeleptica attack
During an epileptic attack the brains unload uncontrolled. Such an unloading
can give an enormous chain reaction in your brain. Other cells are unloading to
and this brings a big chaos in your head. Also the rest of your body can be
involved, all your muscles can be activated at the same time. After a short time
your brains recover. The reason why is unknown. The attack is over and your
brains are functioning normally.
5.The cause of epilepsy
most people who are suffering from epileptic attacks, it is unknown why they
get those attacks. There is no deviation in the brains, also the rest of the
organs are fine. The brains don’t function definitely worse after an attack.
Persons with epilepsy are not aging faster
or getting physical or mental worse
then others. Young children suffer more From epilepsy. In half of the cases
epilepsy starts before the 20.th. year. Conversely epilepsy
can be caused by brain damage. For instant by a cerebral
haemorrhage or by a fracture of the scull. It. can happen that the first attack
only comes years later. A doctor will always search for an explicit apparent
for epilepsy. Other causes for epilepsy
people can get epilepsy after a stroke. But it is not said, that everyone
who once fell on his head or suffered from a tumour necessary gets epilepsy.
6. An EEG examination
EEG means Electro Encephalogram. This is a registration of the electric
activity in the brains. The activity from the brains will be measured on the
surface of the skull. In fact a little bit under the skull and not directly above. They stick some silver electrodes
with wires on your head. And connect you with the EEG-instrument. The electrodes are measuring the electric
activity of the brains. The EEG-instrument amplifies
the dates and write it down on paper or computer in form of lines. Tips
on this drawing shows the extra activity of the brains. During an epileptic
attack you see mostly tips on the EEG.
7. Different attacks
There is a big variety in epileptic attacks. Sometimes there is only a
little part of your brains involved ,sometimes the whole brains. There are about
20 different types of attacks. but 4 of them are the most common:
- the simple attack
- the complexed attack
- the absent of mind attack
- the tonic attack
- the clonic attack
The simple and complexed attack:
A difficult name
for the types of attacks. 30% of all attacks are from this type. These attacks
happen because a part of the brains are getting wildly. There are two types of
partially attacks:the simple one and the complexed one. The simple one is easy
to locate and the symptoms are no more than a onconcience movement, for sample
of a thumb and you can break a cup. Complex means, the symptoms are concentrated
like in this exsample.
The absence of mind
The absence of mind is a kind of attack by which the whole brains are involved.
The failure is not limited to a certain part of the brain. The
absence of mind happens often by children. It only takes
a short time, half a minute, sometimes only seconds. An absence of mind
looks like day-dreaming. People often think, someone which such an attack is a
bit dreamy, nobody thinks of epilepsy. What does it matter, you may think . But
imagine, you get an attack during gym hanging on a rope. So, it is important to
treat these attacks. It is possible with medicaments.
The tonic-clonic attack {the big attack}
Tonic means stiffening or convulsive. Clonic means contraction of the
muscles. All the brain are involved by such an attack. This attack looks scaring
but it is mostly not dangerous. Only in rare cases – if the attack lasts
long or starts again all the time. Then you need a doctor, because the
brains get not enough oxygen. Such an attack starts with the clonic faze.
8.Somebody gets an attack
What to do? By a small attack
[for instance, an absence or normal attack] the best thing to do – is nothing,
just watch. If somebody haS the tendency to plug on his cloth, don’t interfere.
If he/she will cross a road, try carefully to stop him/her. Don’t panic and
don’t use force.
By a big attack
If somebody lies on the ground in an unhappy posture, help carefully to give
him a more comfortable position and lay something flat under his head, a flat
cushion or a coat. Remove spectacles
away and untie narrow cloths. If there are hard and sharp things around the
patient, keep them away and on no account put something between the teeth.
Formerly they did so because they thought the patient would bite in his tongue.
9. Affer an attack
After a big attack sometimes patient awakes confused. Mostly he doesn’t
know what has happened and where he is. Help him to lay on his side, so the
spittle can come out of his mouth and stay with him, till he is well again.
Don’t give him something to eat or to drink. usually there is no need to call
a doctor except if he doesn’t breath normally or the attack starts again or he
doesn’t come around between. Of course you call a doctor, when the patient got
wounded during the attack or if he asked for a doctor by himself. Its very
important, you don’t panic and don’t pick or pluck. The attack will end by
itself.
10. What an you do about epilepsy?
If the doctors are sure {after examination} that the patient suffers from
epilepsy he gets a prescription for medical treatment. The patient must take the
medicine every day. Epilepsy can’t cure by medication. But it helps to
decrease the attacks or even stay away. Some patients know by themselves,
that the chance for an attack is larger when they do
exciting things, or sleep not enough, or sit in a bright light.
If the patient is aware of this he will avoid such a situation. But the
most patients have to swallow pills . Some have to do so lifelong.
Sometimes the doctors need a long time to find the right medication.
Medication will help to avoid the attacks but sometimes they have nasty
side-effects, by instant itch, sleepyness or nausia..Some types of epilepsy are
so intricate, the patient who suffers by such a type must stay in hospital for a
while, so doctors can look for the best medication. In some cases epilepsy can
be operated, but in the Netherlands just a few patients are considered for such
an operation.
11. Sporting
Epilepsy is not an illness, it is not necessarly to stay in bed. You don’t
have a fever and your mind is allright. But it is difficult as well. You have to
be careful on a bicycle. As long as you have attacks it’s better
not to cycle on your own. Also swimming is not a problem, if
you take somebody with you, who
knows about your situation In bath
by your own – awkward – probably you feel safer taking a shower. A climbing rope you better can avoid. But most of the
>sports you can enjoy, if you stay with people who know you.
12. Work.
Mostly there is no problem with jobs. But of course there are jobs you can’t
do, for instance pilot or acrobat. It is wise to realize it on time, so you can
reckon with your choice for your education. It’s a pity that by application
epilepsy often matters, even if you didn’t have attacks for years. Often a
candidate gets rejected for a job. So we can understand, that a lot of
candidates don’t mention epilepsy. It is a shame, because a patient with
epilepsy can reach a lot. Some of the famous men in history suffered from
epilepsy, for instance Alexander the great, Napoleon, Julius Caesar, Dostojewski,
Flaubert, Tsaikovski and Gershwin .
13. Have everybody to know it.
Epilepsy is nothing to be ashamed of and
it should be normal to tell everybody around you. But the practice is different.
People often think epileptic patients are weird – different from other people.
This is not so, but it is difficult to explain. If people
should act normal about epilepsy, it was easier to tell.
Because it is really important, your own safety can be involved. The kids at
school, teachers, coaches, dentists you must tell them.
14. Mariage and babys
If you want to marry or live together, it is not wise to keep it quiet. Your
partner has the right to ask himself if he can deal with it. Inheredity is just
a little factor by epilepsy. But it is always wise
if you wish children, to talk with your doctor. A girl who wants to take
the pill has to talk with her doctor. Probably she need a special dose or a
special pill.
15. People with epilepsy.
People with epilepsy are ordinary people
with a inconvenient handicap. It has nothing to do with intelligence or
personality. There are nice people with epilepsy, but also unpleasant ones,
clever and stupid ones. But the society treats them often as different.
Children with epilepsy have sometimes an unpleasant time at school, because
nobody understand what’s up, classmates won’t sit beside them, because they
think
they are scary. During an
attack you can wet your pants. If you are unconscious you can’t control your
bladder. It is not nice to badger a child with it.. It’s nasty enough Some patients need a sleep
after an attack. The brains are tired, because they had to work so hard in a
short time. It is not nice to be brought home like an ill patient, because you
are not ill. In school there is surely a bed or a bench where somebody can lay
for a short time. Sometimes they will be discriminated at school. For
instance they are not invited to parties or neclected on
a sport event, because the team is afraid, they will loose. It is a pity
if you are not asked to join the team. What is more important, to join or
to win.
