Epilepsy causes unexpected danger

Epilepsy is a brain disease that affects about 50 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Epileptic symptoms such as seizures, sudden loss of consciousness, spasticity of limbs… can greatly affect the patient’s quality of life. In some cases, if not properly controlled, epilepsy can lead to serious complications.

Injury or accident

If you fall during a seizure, you can injure your head or other organs in your body. Seizures that occur while eating easily cause the patient to choke on food or choke on saliva.

Where the patient is swimming or bathing, the seizures can lead to drowning. Epileptic patients have a higher risk of drowning while swimming than the general population. Seizures leading to loss of consciousness or control can lead to accidents if the patient drives or operates large machinery. Several countries have imposed restrictions on the issuance of driver’s licenses for epilepsy patients. In Vietnam, people with epilepsy will not be given a license to drive certain classes of vehicles.

Problems during pregnancy

Seizures during pregnancy can be dangerous for both mother and baby because of the risk of falls and seizures. At the same time, some antiepileptic drugs also increase the risk of birth defects in the fetus. Therefore, if you are thinking about becoming pregnant, women with epilepsy should talk to their doctor for advice, monitor and change medications if necessary.

Psychological problems

People with epilepsy are more likely to experience psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation or behavior. This may be because the patient is having difficulty coping with the condition or the side effects of the medication. Even people who keep their health under control are at risk of developing psychological problems.

Epileptic state

Status epilepticus occurs when seizures last more than five minutes continuously or recur frequently without a period of complete recovery between episodes. People who fall into this state are at high risk of permanent brain damage and death.

Sudden sudden death in epilepsy (SUDEP)

People with epilepsy also have a small risk of sudden death. The cause of this condition is unknown, but some studies suggest that sudden death can be caused by heart or breathing problems such as irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing, inhaling vomit…

People who have frequent tonic-clonic seizures or seizures that are not controlled with medication have a higher risk of sudden sudden death in epilepsy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1.16% of people with epilepsy die from SUDEP, most often in critically ill patients who do not respond to treatment.

Epilepsy is a chronic disease that cannot be completely cured. However, medication helps limit the occurrence of seizures and other symptoms. The doctor will decide on the patient’s treatment plan based on the severity of the symptoms, overall health, and the patient’s ability to respond to treatment. Treatment for epilepsy includes medications, surgery, and other adjunctive therapies.

Phuong Quynh (Based on Mayo Clinic)

at Blogtuan.info – Source: vnexpress.net – Read the original article here