What is epilepsy?
Here are the facts from the National Institute of Health (NIH); “Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which clusters of nerve cells, or neurons, in the brain sometimes signal abnormally. Neurons normally generate electrochemical impulses that act on other neurons, glands and muscles to produce human thought, feelings, and actions. In epilepsy, the normal pattern of neuronal activity becomes disturbed, causing strange sensations, emotions, and behavior, or sometimes convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. During a seizure, neurons may fire as many as 500 times a second, much faster than the normal rate of about 80 times a second. In some people, this happens only occasionally; for others, it may happen up to hundreds of times a day. Epilepsy in not contagious and is not caused by mental illness or mental retardation. Epilepsy is a disorder with many possible causes; anything that disturbs the normal pattern of neuron activity – from illness to brain damage to abnormal brain development – can lead to seizures. Researches suggest that genetic abnormalities may be one of the most important factors contributing to epilepsy. About half of all seizures have no known cause. However, in other cases, the seizures are clearly linked to infection, trauma, or other identifiable problems”.
While this is somewhat of an oversimplification, it might be helpful to note that everything in life is relative. This is especially true regarding dysfunctional body systems. Diabetes is relative to the malfunctioning islets of insulin in the pancreas. Muscular Dystrophy is the dysfunction of nervous and voluntary muscle systems. Scoliosis and spinal curvature alignments are relative. Acne vulgaris is relative to excess oily skin and sebum. However, inside the skull are hidden turmoil and pain. Migraine headaches, described since Biblical and ancient Roman times, are still a neurological conundrum with much speculation as to actual cause, as are Alzheimer’s and other cerebral disorders. Still, the skeleton in the closet continues to be epilepsy. Why? Because epileptic seizures are so dramatic and alarming and people are fearful when they witness a seizure (not “a fit”) for the first time.
The aim of this book is to educate and explain that epilepsy is a medical disorder too costly to be kept hidden under a veil. This book will help lift the veil for all to see and understand the actualities of epilepsy.
I’ve lived with epilepsy since childhood after a major, severe head injury in an accidental fall during a game of kickball. The wonderful support given to me over the years by my parents, my wife and others is the reason I’m still alive. It has also given me the chance and opportunity to write this book. I do hope this information will clarify some of the misinformation surrounding the realities of epilepsy.
Handling my epilepsy has been an overwhelming challenge and a lifelong task. The physical and social hurdles, employment ventures and blows to self-esteem have at times been quite daunting. As the Epilepsy Foundation, has pointed out the foremost non-medical problem people with epilepsy must deal with is discrimination in the areas of education, employment and social acceptance.
Over the centuries populations have twisted their misunderstanding of epilepsy around and around, over and over, steering it mainly onto the aspect of demons, evil spirits, forecasters of the future, angels, etc. However, epilepsy is not a “voodoo, cursed condition.” Epilepsy is but one more of the many health problems of the human body. Each of the “more than 40 kinds of epilepsy” disrupts different parts of the brain’s electrical system.
In America, epilepsy affects the lives of 3 million of our fellow citizens. Fortunately 80% (2.4 million) of them have good control of their epilepsy conditions due to medical advances – which is great. But worldwide, “of the 50 million people in the world with epilepsy, some 35 million have no access to appropriate treatment. This is due to either non-existent services or the misperception that epilepsy is not a medical problem or a treatable brain disorder.” This means that 70% of the people in the world today with epilepsy– do not have any control over it.
The complete control of one’s consciousness is a priceless treasure, and I, like most every kid, had more or less taken mine for granted. But after epilepsy exploded into my life, that 100% control of my consciousness was taken away. This was quite humbling and frightening, for yes, the “taking away” of consciousness can be, and many times is, correlated to what happens on one’s last day of life. Epilepsy, though, involves the “temporary” loss and control of consciousness and beyond a reasonable degree of caution, should not be feared. When someone simply confronts their fears, it opens the way to creating manageable solutions. Dealing with fear is imperative, or society’s misunderstanding of epilepsy will continue to severely debilitate the lives of people with epilepsy, adding shame and degradation to the already excruciating seizures. With realization of the facts, the unneeded cost can be done away with and the ensuing returns for society will be momentous.
If the person next to you, on a plane, train, or in a grocery store suddenly fell to the ground and began experiencing a seizure, would you know what to do? (Attachment A)
With the present means of data circulation: Internet, magazines, newspapers, books, email, TV shows and so on, the information about epilepsy that sorely needs to be heard and seen by the public worldwide is easily accessible. A few of the Web sites and phone numbers of creditable organizations, is on pg. vi. This book describes and defines little known but startling health and social ramifications about epilepsy.