Media Release Feb 04 2008

You want to get out of bed but you can’t move

Imagine waking up on a beautiful sunny morning. Your partner has left for work and your young children are giggling in front of the television.

You try to get out of bed to make breakfast but you are unable to move or make a sound. You feel mentally alert but your body won’t obey your brain’s signals.

This scenario describes one type of seizure due to epilepsy.

A seizure is a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain that usually affects how a person feels or acts for a short time. Seizures take many forms with different levels of impairment and consciousness. Symptoms range from a discreet ‘blanking out’ to uncontrollable whole body jerking.

Terms you may hear used about epilepsy are in French. The phrases are ‘petit mal’ (little/small sickness) and ‘grand mal’ (large or significant sickness). These terms refer, for the most part, to the type of seizure commonly experienced.

Several conditions and illnesses can cause seizures but the most common is epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that affects the nervous system. About two to three percent of Australians have epilepsy. People of all ages, both sexes and any race can develop epilepsy but it is more likely to be diagnosed in childhood and old age.

“Under certain circumstances any of one of us can have a seizure. It is only when there is a tendency to have recurrent seizures that epilepsy is diagnosed,” explains Dr Geoffrey Herkes, neurologist at Royal North Shore Hospital.

Epilepsy may result from a variety of causes including brain injury, stroke or brain haemorrhage. It can also be caused by brain conditions including infections and tumours. Chronic substance abuse can predispose a person to epilepsy.

However 50% of people with epilepsy have no know cause for their seizures.

“Unfortunately there is a stigma associated with epilepsy,” Dr Herkes suggests.

“Many people wrongly believe epilepsy is a mental illness. This is not the case. Seizures are the result of a disruption in the normal chemical and electrical activity of the brain,” said Dr. Herkes.

“The good news is that with correct medication most people with epilepsy can control their seizures and many even become seizure free.”

“It is important for people with epilepsy to discover what triggers their seizures, and where possible avoid it. Seizures can be triggered by stress, fatigue, sickness and alcohol and drug use.”

How do you help someone who is having a seizure?

Epilepsy Action Australia recommends the following:

Remain calm yourself and you will be a great help to your friend, family member or colleague
Stay with the person
Time the seizure (most will be over in less than 3 minutes)
Protect the person from injury
Roll into the recovery position (on the side) after jerking stops or immediately if the person has or is vomiting
Do your best to maintain the person’s privacy and dignity
Observe and reassure until recovered

Do not restrain or move the person unless they are in physical danger. In the unlikely event that resuscitation is necessary, wait until jerking movements have stopped.

Media Contact: Kristen Bunyard 02 9926 7199 or 0413 025 742

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