Epilepsy
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Epilepsy is a disease of the brain. People who suffer from epilepsy are called epileptics.
The disease has many forms, but generally the following is true:
- People may get muscular seizures or convulsions.
- People lose control over their body. They may fall to the floor and hurt themselves when they are standing or walking.
- People may become unconscious.
- Those affected usually are not aware of the seizure going on. People may not remember or know what happened to them.
- People are tired after a seizure. They may be confused.
- People who suffer from Epilepsy are not mentally ill. In fact, many great minds had a record of Epilepsy. Both Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte had such a record.
The disease is very common, and has been studied a lot. There are drugs for many forms of epilepsy that make life better for those affected. Doctors only call someone epileptic, if that person has had at least 2 seizures, for which the immediate cause cannot be seen. There are also seizures which are not caused by Epilepsy.
In most cases, epilepsy is caused by scars in the brain. Some forms of the disease are caused by genes, they may be passed on from the parents to the children. Very often, the actual cause for an epileptic seizure is lack of sleep, too much alcohol, or other things that cause stress.
Many countries in the world say there are special rules for people who have epilepsy. They need to be without a seizure for some time, before they may again drive a car. They also need to take drugs to treat their illness. In many countries, such people may not drive autobuses, taxis or lorries.
[edit] What to do if you see someone having a seizure
- Look that they do not injure themselves. People who have a seizure may be completely unaware of what is around them. They also do not know that they are about to injure themselves.
- Most epileptic seizures are very short. Most of them are over within minutes.
- If you see a seizure going on for several minutes, this might be several seizures, one after another. It would be good to call a doctor.
- If you do not know the person or you do not know that he or she has epilepsy (or seizures), call a doctor.
[edit] Other good advice
- If you know someone is an epileptic (they have epilepsy), ask them what you should do when you see them having a seizure. Of course you need to ask them before they have the seizure.
- Seizures occur at irregular intervals. There are many people who only have one (or a few) seizures. There may be months, or years between seizures.
- Seizures are very tiring. It is normal for a person to feel tired after a seizure.
[edit] Famous epileptics
Famous Epileptics
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Gaius Julius Caesar |
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