India. A land of diversity, and different cultures, and unique lifestyles. A place where everyone is different, and knows the world differently.
And yet, we are not divided.
Diverse, but unified. Contrasting cultures, in harmony. Unique, but toget...
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Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain, which can affect people of all ages, more common in children and old people, because of the high-risk factors of the groups. It's one of the most common neurological diseases around the world. In this condition, the individual gets seizures (more commonly called 'fits').
Epilepsy can be caused by many different conditions that affect a person’s brain. Examples include stroke, head injury, childbirth complications, and some genetic disorders.
The symptoms of epilepsy are:
• Sudden twitching. • Loss of consciousness. • Tingling sensation as if being pricked in arms or legs. • Stiffness in muscles of arms or legs or face.
The causes of epilepsy are:
• Brain damage from prenatal and perinatal injury. • Congenital abnormalities. • Brain Infections Stroke and Brain Tumors. • Head Injury/ Accidents. • Prolonged high fever during childhood.
As per an estimate, in India, there are over a million cases per year. In 70% of the cases, it can be cured permanently through medication.
Every year, 17th November is observed as the National Epilepsy Awareness Day, to spread awareness around the medical issue of epilepsy, which has long been shrouded by myths and ignorance. Today, let's debunk some myths that have been long attached to Epilepsy.
❌ Epilepsy is a mental illness.
✔️ Wrong. Epilepsy is NOT a mental illness. It's a neurological condition and not a psychological issue. Just because the patient experiences stare spells or pins and needles, it doesn't mean they are suffering from a mental illness.
❌ Tattooing or burning with leather objects heals epilepsy.
✔️ This is not logic. It is believed that epilepsy is some form of punishment that the Gods have given to the individual for his/her sins in the past. To ward off the evil spirits and to 'save' the individual, the people practice wearing threads and bangles of different metals. Branding the body with hot iron rods and leather objects is practically inhumane. As such there are medications which can cure epilepsy, there are some cases in which it remains uncured and medications continue for a lifetime.
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Creating awareness is of utmost importance here because though it can be detected early and can be treated, masses are still unaware of what this condition is. People sometimes hide this fact that someone from their family is suffering from epilepsy just because of the mindset that they will be shamed and will have no respect in the society if it is revealed that a specific individual is epileptic.
Sadly enough, people are discriminated on the grounds of this medical disease as well. Many people are thrown out of their jobs just because they are epileptic and 'cannot handle the pressure' the job offers.
However, with the advancement of technology in medical science, especially in India, permanent solution to epilepsy is very much possible with surgeries. However, the surgery is available only in Delhi as of now.
Together let's move forward in the direction to eradicate the myths and the ignorance that surrounds epilepsy.
