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.
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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.
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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 known cause. At that point, your doctor will still recommend blood and imaging tests to rule out other conditions such as liver disease, heart disease, brain tumors, infectious disease, or diabetes. An Electroencephalogram (EEG) is also integral to diagnosing an epileptic condition so be prepared for that test.
Furthermore, you’ll undergo a thorough medical examination to determine if your motor skills and mental function have been affected.
During this exam, it will be helpful to disclose any factors that might have led up to the seizure if you have that information. Common causes of epileptic seizures can include stress, caffeine, bright or flashing lights, lack of sleep, or certain foods.
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Management Options For Epilepsy
There are a variety of options for managing epilepsy. The first of these is anticonvulsant or antiseizure medications such as levetiracetam (Keppra), lamotrigine (Lamictal), topiramate (Topamax), valproic acid (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol), and ethosuximide (Zarontin).
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, a doctor is likely to prescribe a combination of drugs to keep things under control. You may also receive the lowest dosage possible when starting out.
Other options include different types of surgery. In one minor operation, a vagus stimulator is placed right under the skin in the chest. This device is helpful for preventing seizures as it stimulates an important nerve. The more invasive surgeries would involve directly removing or modifying parts of the brain that are connected with your seizures.
In addition to taking your medication as prescribed, there are a few precautions you’ll need to take when living with epilepsy. It will be important to avoid seizure triggers so keeping a journal of things that affect you in that way will help. Some health experts also recommend trying a ketogenic diet as it has been shown to be beneficial.
It’s true that epilepsy can be a lot to deal with, but with the right treatment program, it can be easily managed. More importantly, certain researchers are constantly working on more effective medications as well as preventive care so people have fewer seizures.
