Epilepsy Awareness Day, 26th March, 2019
by Premier Hospitals | March 26, 2019 |
Epilepsy Awareness Day or Purple day is the special event to promote awareness of epilepsy by highlighting the problems faced by epilepsy patients, their families and loved ones. This day is for everyone irrespective of where you are, how small your group or large your area is.
A recent study of the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that 50 million people have epilepsy across the world and around 10 million people in India suffer from seizures associated with epilepsy. Though epilepsy is treatable, three-fourths of affected people in developing countries like India could not receive the required treatment.
History of Purple Day:
A purple day was introduced in 2008 by Cassidy Megan of Nova Scotia, Canada to raise the awareness of epilepsy. On this day, people were encouraged to wear the color for raising the awareness of Epilepsy. This event is celebrated with an aim to cast away certain myths that cloud the general public’s view of the condition.
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder featured by recurrent ‘seizures’ or ‘fits’, resulting from sudden, excessive electrical discharges in the neurons (brain cells). This can affect people of all age group with unique concerns and problems.
Symptoms of Epilepsy:
The early symptom of epilepsy is repeated seizures. However, the following are the symptoms which may recur:
- Convulsion with no temperature
- Confused memory
- Intermittent fainting spells
- Unresponsive to instructions
- Sudden stiff or fall with no clear reason
- sudden bouts of blinking and chewing with no apparent stimuli
- Difficult communication
- Inappropriate and repetitive movements
- Panic or become angry
- Peculiar changes in senses like smell, touch and sound
- Recurring episodes of sleep during the day
- Periods of extreme muscle weakness
- Sleep disorders
- Nightmares
- Fugue states, a rare psychiatric disorder
- Psychogenic seizures
Causes of Epilepsy:
Messaging systems in the brain trigger every human body function. When this messaging system disrupts because of faulty electrical activity, it results in epilepsy. However, the exact cause of epilepsy is not known. But there are certain inherited genetic factors which make the occurrence of epilepsy more likely.
- Brain damage from prenatal and perinatal injury
- Congenital abnormalities
- Brain Infections
- Stroke and Brain Tumors
- Head Injury/ Accidents
- Prolonged high fever during childhood
The seizures are more likely to occur once the cause is clearly identified. The factors that can affect the chances of remission include:
- Access to treatment
- Response to treatment
- Age during initial symptoms
- Other neurological conditions, if any
Epilepsy Management:
- Tips to deal with Seizures
- Do not panic.
- Avoid restraining the person during a seizure.
- Remove sharp objects or other harmful objects
- Loosen tight neckwear, if any
- Roll the person onto one side so the fluid in the mouth can come out.
- Put soft object under his or her head.
- Don’t put anything into the person’s mouth because he may swallow his own tongue.
- Stay with the person and make the person rest or sleep.
- Tips for Epileptic patients
- Take the epilepsy medications regularly even if you don’t have any seizures.
- Do not stop taking medications without your doctor's’ advice.
- Consult your doctor before consuming any other medications in order to avoid possible side effects or other complications, if any.
- Avoid consuming alcohol as it can provoke seizures.
Epilepsy can be treated with medications, but the treatment should not be delayed. Seek immediate treatment as soon as it is diagnosed to prevent further deterioration. Celebrate Purple Day to increase awareness about epilepsy and to remind people with seizures, that they are not alone.
About The Hospital:
Since the inception of Premier Hospital in 1991 till today, we have grown to unprecedented levels, due to our excellence in medical sciences and healthcare. Premier Hospital is the creation of Dr Mahesh Marda and when it was first established, was only a small, 30-bed hospital facility. Back then, we provided only secondary care to patients, but that certainly has changed in the present landscape.