Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a brain-related disease in which a person suffers from repeated seizures. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.5 crore people in India are suffering from epilepsy. Despite this high number, many people do not go to the doctor on time. Especially in small towns and villages, fear, social stigma and wrong beliefs are the major reasons for this.

Doctors say that epilepsy It should be treated like a chronic disease like diabetes or high blood pressure. With modern treatment, about 70 percent of patients can control their seizures with regular medicines. For those patients who do not respond to medicines, there are excellent treatment options in India, which give them hope of living a better life.

How does an epileptic attack occur?

Dr. Madhukar Bhardwaj, Director of Aakash Healthcare and Head of Neurology Department, said that epilepsy attack occurs when the electrical signals of the brain stop working properly for some time. Due to this, the person may get tremors, may fall, may stare blankly for some time or may lose consciousness. Some seizures are mild and end within seconds, while some can be severe.

These misconceptions about epilepsy

He said that even today, especially in rural areas, patients are reluctant to go to the hospital because there are many misconceptions about epilepsy in the society. Dr. Madhukar said, some people associate it with ghosts or black magic. Some believe that it spreads through touch or that people suffering from epilepsy cannot study, get a job or marry. There is also a dangerous belief that something should be put in the patient's mouth during a seizure. All these things are wrong and can be harmful for the patient.

Dr. Praveen Gupta said that it is sometimes difficult to identify epilepsy early. He said, setbacks do not come in every tour. There are some seizures that just feel like emptiness, confusion, or distraction. For this reason, epilepsy is identified late. Early detection is very important, Dr. Praveen told that epilepsy can happen to people of all ages, but due to fear and wrong information, many patients reach the doctor very late. He said, if treatment is done on time, most patients can live a completely normal life.

Is there surgery for epilepsy?

Dr. Praveen said that generally surgery is considered only when medicines do not work. But in epilepsy that cannot be cured by medicines, which is called drug-resistant epilepsy, this treatment can become a ray of hope. He said, modern treatments, advanced surgeries and neuro-robotic technologies are improving the outcomes of patients.