Preliminary symptoms, prevention, and treatment of epilepsy

I am going to share a story about epilepsy that a coworker and friend of mine experienced.

I would like to talk about the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of epilepsy.

 

A coworker and friend suddenly collapsed while working. Since it was a scene everyone had never seen before, we were all flustered and surprised. Later, I found out that the diagnosis was epilepsy. In the past, it was called "seizures," but now it is referred to as epilepsy instead of that term.

 

My friend's pre-seizure symptoms included feeling unusually tired. They mentioned having headaches and often said they were very tired. Even after regaining consciousness, they appeared dazed and showed signs of rambling for a short period.

 

 

 

Later, after talking in detail with my friend, I learned that they had undergone tests such as EEG and MRI at the hospital. It is said that in cases of epilepsy, it can be quite difficult to determine the exact cause. This indicates that the causes are quite diverse; they could be due to brain damage or cerebrovascular diseases, but even with tests like those done for my friend, it can still be challenging to identify the precise cause.

 

 

Epilepsy is divided into partial seizures and generalized seizures. Some partial seizures do not involve loss of consciousness or only involve a part of the body, but most are generalized seizures. Among these, the most common type is a grand mal seizure, which involves stiffening of the body and loss of consciousness, and my friend's case also falls into this category.

 

 

Epilepsy is a disease that is difficult to cure. Therefore, it is said that prevention should be prioritized rather than a cure. If there is an underlying cause, treatment of the cause and consistent medication are necessary to manage the condition. When medication is used, it is said that 7 out of 10 people can control their seizures. People with epilepsy symptoms need to manage prevention through proper self-care, which includes regularly visiting the hospital for check-ups and prescriptions, taking medication as prescribed, getting enough sleep, and maintaining a regular lifestyle.

 

Especially, alcohol should be avoided because it can trigger seizures, and abstaining from alcohol is the best course of action. Epilepsy can be managed effectively with proper care and lifestyle habits, so it would be helpful if close family members and acquaintances are informed about this and can offer support.