It takes a lot of power to talk about being a public figure and living with something that is often stigmatized around the world. but, Fatima Sana Sheikho wants to spread awareness about epilepsy, Seeing that Epilepsy Awareness Month is on, the actor took to Instagram to shed light on the condition and shared with her 3.1 million followers how she is coping so far.
Ask me anything in session,’DangalThe star is engaged in conversation with her followers. When asked by someone how she coped with epilepsy, Fatima wrote that she has a “good support system” that includes her family, friends, and pets, and that “some days are good”, but some ” not so good”.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
For beginners, epilepsy is a neurological disorder of the central nervous system, in which brain activity often becomes abnormal and causes a loss of sensation and awareness, as well as periods of seizures or “abnormal behavior.” According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally.
One of his followers asked Fatima, 30, when did she come to know about it and the actor wrote: “[I] was diagnosed when i was training for Dangal, I got an episode and I woke up straight in the hospital… [I] previously denied [for five years], And now, I’ve learned to embrace it, and to work and be around it.”
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
Earlier, Dr Prashant Makhija, Neurologist Consultant, Wockhardt HospitalSouth Bombay told indianexpress.com For the correct diagnosis of epilepsy, it is important that the patient consults a neurologist, which is based on the patient’s clinical evaluation (symptoms/signs), EEG (electroencephalogram) which detects brain waves, and the patient’s MRI scan. diagnoses. Brain.
Someone else asked the actor what one can do when he is alone and has an epileptic attack. She replied: “If he’s getting an episode and there’s no one around, there’s nothing you can do. But, once you get to know him and you’re around him, let him feel safe. He may be confused, emotionally/physically drained, and hopefully not injured. We just want someone to be by our side.”
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
Fatima also wrote that the conflicts are “serious and disabling”. “It’s not all in the mind. It can be fatal and leave you with major disabilities.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
Talking about how she is dealing with the condition, the actor wrote that she informs all her directors that she has epilepsy. “They have always been very supportive and understanding. They are aware of the challenges I might face in the days leading up to the episodes.”
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
Fatima also shared that the thought of a recurring episode makes her “extremely anxious”, especially when she is “at work”.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
Subsequently, she revealed that her epilepsy prevents her from doing activities such as swimming, driving and being alone.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
She said she suffered from a tonic-clonic seizure – also called a convulsion – an absence seizure – which causes a sudden loss of consciousness – clonic seizure – in which the arms and legs are repeatedly twitching on one or both sides, numbness with or tingling – and focal seizure that begins in one area of the brain, but may be generalized and spread to other areas.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
What can trigger the seizure, the actor said stressLack of sleep, fatigue, flashlight, dehydration are factors.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
Describing the difference between seizures and epilepsy, Fatima wrote that the former is a “single event” while the latter is recurrent.
Dr. Makhija had explained, “An episode of fits/cramps can be caused by a rapidly recovering/reversible problem such as low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia), low sodium levels (hyponatremia), alcohol consumption, etc.” Epilepsy is diagnosed when they show a persistent tendency to have recurrent seizures due to genetic/acquired causes.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
“Epilepsy is either caused by genetic (familial) reasons or when there is damage to the brain which can occur after a head injury, brain infection, stroke, brain tumor, etc. About 1 in 26 people have a lifetime risk of developing it. The risk would be epilepsy,” he had said.
Fatima also mentioned things to keep in mind when dealing with someone with epileptic seizures:
* Do not restrain the person.
Don’t put anything in their mouth.
* Set them aside, so that if they throw up, don’t strangle them.
*Tour time.
* Take away sharp objects.
* Take the person to the hospital if it lasts for more than 5-10 minutes.
*Keep calm and don’t panic.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
She confessed that she usually avoids going to places where she “doesn’t feel safe,” or where people won’t be able to help her when she has an epileptic seizure.
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
On how fast she recovers from an episode, the actor wrote that it depends on the type of seizure she has experienced. “If it’s full-blown, it can take a whole day. Because then I get migraines, body aches, I’m zoned out, don’t understand, confused…”
“If it is [an] Absence [seizure]I could recover from it in 20 minutes or less.”
Photo: Instagram/@fatimasanashaikh
I Follow us for more lifestyle news Instagram | Twitter , Facebook and don’t miss the latest updates!
