Common Misconceptions About Epilepsy
5. You Shouldn’t Play Sports
- Epilepsy often isn’t an obstacle to reaching physical goals and achieving success.
- Frequent or severe seizures may require adjusting athletic activities.
- Activities involving climbing are not recommended; care must be taken with activities around water.
6. Flashing Lights are Always a Trigger
- Visual triggers affect just 3% of people with epilepsy.
- Some video games with flashing lights or color changes can provoke seizures in sensitive individuals.
7. You Can’t Die From Epilepsy
- Epilepsy is a serious medical condition, in some cases, seizures can lead to death.
- Prolonged seizures are estimated to result in 22,000 to 42,000 deaths in the U.S. every year.
8. You Shouldn’t Have a Job
- Epilepsy is a non-discriminatory condition!
- Individuals with seizure disorders can thrive in a variety of careers.
- Fun fact: Throughout history, several well-known individuals, including Theodore Roosevelt, had seizures.
Sources
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22788-tonic-clonic-grand-mal-seizure
- https://www.epilepsy.com/stories/debunking-epilepsy-misconceptions
- https://www.nyp.org/news/10-common-myths-about-childhood-epilepsy-debunked
- https://www.valleychildrens.org/blog/epilepsy-13-epilepsy-myths-busted
always consult a healthcare professional