He was born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., but you might know him as Lil Wayne. After making music for almost three decades, he’s considered to be one of the most talented rappers in the industry. Though he’s equally famous for his lifestyle and legal troublesome, there’s one more thing that has been getting the limelight – his health.
When people first became aware of Lil Wayne’s seizures, it was assumed that it was drug-related. Fortunately, the rapper revealed in 2013 that he’d suffered from epilepsy since childhood though he hadn’t known what to call it before. In an interview with Katie Couric, Lil Wayne stated that it might have been “a lack of knowledge” that led his mother to believe that they were dealing with something else.
Since then, Lil Wayne has had multiple seizures that have resulted in hospitalization and even the cancellation of scheduled shows.
For those who deal with epilepsy, however, having the illness disrupt their lives is not uncommon. As a matter of fact, Blacks typically make up a third of the approximately 2 million people living with the condition.
Lil Wayne: “I’ve Had A Bunch Of Seizures – Y’all Just Never Hear About Them”
What Is Epilepsy?
While you may think of epilepsy as one condition, it’s actually a term used to describe a variety of illnesses that affect the central nervous system. Seizures are a characteristic symptom of epilepsy and the signs of a seizure can vary based on the type that’s being experienced.
Generalized seizures affect the entire brain and can cause staring blankly into space, stiff muscles, jerking movements, as well as a loss of muscle control.
Focal seizures, on the other hand, only affect a section of the brain and can cause dizziness, loss of consciousness, tingling, impaired awareness, as well as walking in circles.
How Epilepsy Is Diagnosed?
Though seizures are typical of epilepsy, one incident doesn’t usually mean that you have the condition. A fever, certain illnesses, or significantly low blood pressure can also cause seizures. To be officially diagnosed, you’d need to have at least two seizures that have no