health

Most people with epilepsy can lead normal and active lives, although they
must follow a few safety restrictions. People with epilepsy must be free of
seizures for a period of time specified by their home state before they are
permitted to drive. Laws prohibit people with uncontrolled seizures from
driving a car.
A person with a seizure disorder should avoid working in jobs that
involve heights, dangerous machinery, or underwater environments. To
avoid the risk of drowning during a seizure, taking showers is safer than
taking baths, and swimming in a pool or lake with other people is safer
than swimming alone.
People with epilepsy also are at risk for depression. In part, the depression
may stem from loss of mobility or from the effects of prejudice at
school or at work. Prejudice results when people fear the condition and
do not understand it. Children with epilepsy may become depressed if
their parents become overly protective and prevent them from engaging
in normal childhood activities. Depression is a particular problem among
adolescents, who may refuse to take their medication on schedule and,
therefore, may run the risk of additional seizures.
In addition, alcohol consumption makes people who have epilepsy
more susceptible to seizures, and the combination of alcohol and anticonvulsant
medications can be deadly.
Understanding the facts about epilepsy and providing a positive environment
in which treatment becomes a part of everyday life can help
people with epilepsy and their families.