Lifestyle Corner

Throughout history, epilepsy has been associated with many misconceptions, including the notion that people with epilepsy were mentally ill or mentally retarded. Slowly, these misconceptions are fading, as individuals with epilepsy, supported by groups such as the Epilepsy Foundation and countless others, work hard to educate us about the disorder.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 2.3 million Americans are currently living with epilepsy. Approximately half of these individuals are women.

Epilepsy is a disorder in which the normal pattern of brain activity becomes disturbed, causing brain cells (neurons) to misfire or signal abnormally producing what's called a seizure. Researchers have identified more than 20 different kinds of seizures and dozens of syndromes and other conditions that include recurring seizures. People can have more than one type of seizure. Because seizures occur in and affect the brain, they can cause a range of symptoms from unexplained sensations and uncontrollable movements to loss of consciousness, depending on where in the brain they occur. Some people with epilepsy have frequent seizures, but others seldom have them.

Epilepsy may run in some families. It can also be the result of brain injury from conditions that deprive the brain of oxygen, such as a heart attack, or from brain tumors or alcoholism and other conditions that affect the brain's normal functioning.

Living with Epilepsy

Despite recent advances in treatment, uncontrollable seizures or the side effects from treatment are still a fact of life for some people with epilepsy. Imagine living with the anxiety that a seizure could happen at any time, anywhere. What if a seizure happens when I'm holding a child or during an important meeting at work? These fears grip many women with epilepsy every day of their lives.

In 2000, a group of epileptologists in conjunction with the Epilepsy Foundation, surveyed the perceptions of 1,022 people who have epilepsy. Fear and uncertainty were ranked as the worst aspects of having to live with epilepsy. Lifestyle limitations ranked second. Adults surveyed shared that the biggest single lifestyle limitation was not being able to drive, while older children and adolescents ranked embarrassment about their condition as their major worry. The stigma of having the disorder as well as associated discrimination was considered by one out of four of those surveyed as another "worst" thing about having epilepsy.

The study, published in the journal Epilepsy Research, highlights the kind of stress people with epilepsy endure. Fear, uncertainty and lifestyle restrictions consistently ranked above concerns about the physical effects of the condition for those surveyed.

Chronic conditions like epilepsy do cause enormous stress. In fact, almost a third of epilepsy patients also suffer from depression due to the stress of the disease.

The good news? If you have epilepsy, learning and practicing stress management strategies can reduce the stress caused by epilepsy, increase your sense of independence and improve your general health.

Seizures can be triggered by a variety of things. Lack of sleep is the strongest seizure trigger, so women with epilepsy must absolutely try to get proper rest every day. For some people with epilepsy, alcohol can trigger seizures. In these cases, it is advisable to eliminate foods and beverages containing alcohol from your diet. Stress can also be a trigger.

Many women with epilepsy say that they also need to avoid highly stimulating environments that involve fast eye movements or make them dizzy. For example, crowded shopping malls with flashing holiday lights might trigger seizures for some.

Support groups online or in-person are a great way to share coping strategies. Contact your local Epilepsy Foundation affiliate or local hospital for information on support groups in your area. Visit www.epilepsyfoundation.org. Consider joining a clinical trial that is investigating epilepsy. You may feel that you are contributing to finding a cure, while possibly benefiting from new epilepsy medications the trial is studying.

Tips for Living Well with Epilepsy

Overcoming the daily challenges presented by epilepsy is never easy. Try these tips to help you cope and live your life to its fullest:

• Take one day at a time. Learn as much as you can about epilepsy, any seizure triggers you may have and your treatment options.

• Put yourself first by eating a balanced diet, taking a multivitamin with calcium, exercising and taking your medications as directed.

• Build stress-busting exercise and mental relaxation techniques into your daily routine. Gentle stretches and deep breathing exercises for 20 minutes or more each day will help you relax and refocus.

• Keep a seizure diary to help you track the types and patterns of your seizures to help your health care professional team help you.

• Don't worry about what other people think about epilepsy. Educate them about the condition to combat myths and bolster your self-confidence.

• Don't withdraw. Stay active to fight depression. If you do become depressed, seek help. There are antidepressant medications that can work with antiepileptic drugs.

• Remember: It's against the law for an employer to fire or refuse to hire you because of your condition, except in extraordinary cases where seizures would make it impossible for you to do your job and no reasonable accommodation can be found. When Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, epilepsy was one of many disabilities specifically included. Even fear of a person's disability can form the basis for discrimination, according to the Supreme Court.

Learn more about Epilepsy here.

Pamela M. Peeke MD, MPH, Pew Foundation Scholar in Nutrition and Metabolism, is Medical Advisor to the NWHRC; she also is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and author of the best selling book Fight Fat After Forty (Viking Press, 2000).

Click www.drpeeke.com, Dr. Peeke's Web site featuring health and wellness issues for women.