Guide

• The best preventive measure is to strictly follow the doctor's instructions.
• Do not change the prescribed medicine/dose
• Do not stop taking the medicine unless advised by the doctor.
• Do not change regular food habits
• Do not change regular sleeping time/hours
• Avoid unnecessary excitement
• Avoid known triggers for seizures
• Avoid alcohol consumption and do not smoke.

Those around an epileptic

• It is important that children with epilepsy are treated as normally as possible. Both by parents and siblings.
• Children should be assured that they will not die because of this problem
• In adults and elderly, ensure they get support, warmth and understanding
• Ensure that they take proper medicines
• They must sleep at regular time and not indulge in potentially dangerous activities like unaccompanied swimming or driving soon after taking anti-convulsant medicines.

Besides, if you come across a person in the clutches of a seizure :

• First of all keep calm and turn the patient to the side and loosen any tight clothing
• Drain saliva from tightly held teeth
• Move away any objects that are likely to cause hurt to the patient
• Do not restrain convulsive movements
• Do not force anything between tightly clenched teeth or fingers
• Allow free breathing without crowding and if the seizure continues for a long time, get a doctor.
  

Above all everyone with epilepsy and those around them should realise that it is a nuisance that has to be overcome. Others with epilepsy have not only surmounted their condition but have moved on to become some of the greatest achievers of their times. Alfred Nobel, Isaac Newton, Pythagoras, Tony Greig, Leo Tolstoy, Nopolean Bonaparte, Alexander the Great just to name a few.

It would do well to keep in mind at all times that: Epilepsy is not the curse of a demon, Epilepsy is not a handicap, Epilepsy is not contagious. Epilepsy is a brain disorder and people with such disorders are more than capable of leading a perfectly normal life. If they so wish and desire.