Did you know that anyone can have an epileptic attack? Epilepsy or seizure, a medical condition caused by a temporary electrical disturbance inside the brain, is the most common chronic brain disorder in every country in the world. According to the Philippine League Against Epilepsy (PLAE), more than 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy and an estimated 750,000 people are afflicted with this condition in the Philippines.
“Epilepsy should be everyone’s concern. It’s not always caused by underlying brain disease. Even drugs and alcohol or chemical imbalances in the body contribute to having this condition. There’s a need to educate people suffering from it and their loved ones to further understand this condition and to avoid the anxiety felt by the person and the family whenever there’s an attack,” explains Dr. Eusebio Debuque, chairman of the Department of Neurosciences at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center.
At a recent symposium to educate people on epilepsy, participants learned what they can do during an epileptic attack. They also had the opportunity to meet and learn from other people with the same experience and discover how having a support group could help them cope with their condition better.
The lay forum featured experts from the Asian Hospital and Medical Center who shared their knowledge and expertise on the subject. Topics included: “What, Why and How of Epilepsy: An Epilepsy Primer” by Dr. Madeleine Sosa, consultant on pediatric neurology; “What To Do During A Seizure” by Dr. Bernadette Terencio, consultant on pediatric neurology; and “Organizing an Epilepsy Support Group” by Apple Valencia, Epilepsy Exemplar Awardee of 2006.