When talking about November’s Epilepsy Awareness Month, it’s clear that most people don’t know much about the disease beyond the idea that it’s some sort of brain condition. Beyond that, things get murky… at best. Here are four of the murkiest epilepsy beliefs, and the truth behind them!
Myth 1: All Epilepsy Seizures Involve Muscle Spasms
Because epilepsy is (very basically) electricity in the brain that escapes its intended path, what we call “seizures” can look very different for different people. If the escaped electricity reaches areas of the brain that control movement, seizures might include muscle spasms. But that’s not always the case. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, the main kinds of seizures include tonic-clonic, absence, and atonic. These are technical names! But if you or someone you love has epilepsy, it’s worth visiting the Epilepsy Foundation page to learn more about the specific kind of seizure involved.
Myth 2: Most Epilepsy Cases Are Triggered by Flashing Lights
You’ve seen those warnings on amusement park rides or movies, things like “Warning! Flashing Lights May Cause Seizures!” In part, that’s true: In some people with epilepsy, special patterns of flashing lights may trigger brain activity that causes seizures. But only about 3 percent of people with epilepsy are “photosensitive,” meaning their condition can be activated by light. Even for those with photosensitivity, many factors need to align to trigger a seizure, such as the speed, brightness, and color of the flashing light.
Myth 3: You Should Put Something in the Mouth of a Person Having an Epilepsy Seizure
The traditional wisdom was that if you saw someone having a seizure, you should put your wallet or a belt in their mouth to protect their tongue. However, according to the American Academy of Neurology, this is not advisable. Instead, if a person having an epilepsy seizure becomes unconscious, you should roll them to their side to prevent choking on vomit. Putting anything in their mouth increases the risk of choking.
Myth 4: Epilepsy is a Rare Condition
Because epilepsy comes in many forms and seizures vary, it’s easy to miss people who have the condition. Even if someone experiences seizures, you may not be around to witness one. This leads to the misconception that epilepsy is rare. In reality, 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with epilepsy every year, making the lifetime risk about 1-in-26. Epilepsy is the fifth most common brain disorder, following migraines, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease