Epilepsy can cause a number of health complications, especially if it goes untreated. The most serious of these complications is known as sudden unexpected death in 癫痫 (癫痫). 虽然不常见, it does cause great concern among those with 癫痫 because so little is known about what causes it or how to prevent it.
"Doctors always want to communicate the risk of SUDEP to patients when making a diagnosis," says Carey Wilson, MD, a pediatric neurologist at University of Utah Health. "Not because it's a high possibility, but because the patient needs to know it exists.
It would be very unlikely for someone with new onset 癫痫 to die of SUDEP. The increased risk of SUDEP often comes if you have years of uncontrolled convulsive 癫痫发作.
Managing Seizures
While there is no sure way to prevent SUDEP, there are ways to reduce the risk. The best way is to keep seizure activity under control. This is normally done with medication that must be taken consistently, without missing doses or changing the timing of when they are taken.
"Somet输入法设置s people with 癫痫 may not take their medication because they want to feel 'normal,'" says Kimberly Orton, RN, an 癫痫 care coordinator at U of U Health. "This is especially true of young adults with the condition. But, in doing so, they put themselves at risk."
In addition to properly taking medication, people with 癫痫 can keep their seizure activity under control by taking care of themselves. This includes eating properly, exercising, and getting enough sleep.
"Adequate sleep allows your brain to grow and rest,威尔逊说. "Also, avoid things that may interrupt sleep like stimulants and alcohol."
对一些人来说, medication adherence and lifestyle changes do not reduce the likelihood of seizure activity. Instead, working closely with a neurologist is the most reliable way to reduce the risk of SUDEP.
"We do everything we can to investigate options for controlling 癫痫,威尔逊说. "We look for ways to shorten the severity of a seizure or ensure that someone is safe during the seizure."
Risks of Seizures
Understanding proper safety precautions during 癫痫发作 is critical for people with 癫痫 and their loved ones. After all, while SUDEP is frightening, it's not the only risk facing those with 癫痫.
"We ask people to think if they are in a situation where they could possibly die or be seriously injured if they suddenly lost consciousness,威尔逊说. "If the answer is yes, you shouldn't do that—at least until we feel that you have better controlled 癫痫发作."
Some safety precautions people with 癫痫 can take include taking showers instead of baths, using extreme caution when swimming, not sleeping in high places, 避免楼梯, and wearing helmets while bicycling, 滑板, 或滑雪.
What to do if Someone is Having a Seizure
Those near a person having a seizure can help keep them safe and possibly reduce the likelihood of future 癫痫发作 by using the acronym STARR:
- Safety. Make sure the person is safe and do not put anything in the mouth.
- T输入法设置. Keep track of how long a seizure lasts. Most are over within 90 seconds.
- Act平静. Panicking will only draw unwanted attention to the person having the seizure or lead to poor decision making.
- Recovery. Put them in a recovery position on their side after the seizure is over.
- 记录. Write down everything you remember. This can help in preventing future episodes.
"Any type of recording, even if it's your cell phone, record it," Orton says. "The information you collect
can give providers so much more information than you know."
Management of seizure activity by people with 癫痫 and their loved ones can greatly increase quality of life. In the most serious circumstances, it can even save lives. 意识, 警惕, and working with your providers to improve management of seizure activity by people with 癫痫 and their loved ones can greatly increase quality of life.