Epilepsy can have a really strong effect on the mental/emotional health of the sufferer. It is a fairly common disease, too, affecting around 50 million people around the world. Epilepsy is characterised by seizures and affects the neurological wellness and wellbeing of sufferers. It is a frequently misunderstood disorder, too, and there are many myths associated with the disorder, which makes it harder for sufferers to receive appropriate treatment and care from those around them.
For example, many people think that epileptic seizures are a medical emergency and dial an ambulance as soon as they see one occurring. In truth, not all seizures can be classed as medical emergencies, and it is likely that someone who suffers from epilepsy may not need to travel to hospital in an ambulance following a seizure. Of course, if you are at all concerned about a patient or if you feel the seizure has gone on for too long, or there are repetitive seizures with no regaining of consciousness between them, then you absolutely should call an ambulance. It is also possible that the person having a seizure may injure themselves during the seizure, in which case you will need to call for medical attention. You should also always call for medical help if the person fitting is a pregnant woman. Other than that, though, an epileptic seizure is in itself not a medical emergency, if that person is a diagnosed epileptic and their condition is being managed.
There is also a myth that epilepsy sufferers are less intelligent than others, which his absolutely not the case. Although frequent seizures can interrupt the learning process, which can lead to a disturbed education, epilepsy itself does not cause lower intelligence. Most people with epilepsy have either normal or above average intelligence, and there are examples of talented people in history being known epileptics, such as Sir Isaac Newton, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Napoleon Bonaparte, Agatha Christie and Vincent Van Gough.
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