Actor Fatima Sana Shaikh, who has often talked about her battle with epilepsy, a chronic neurological condition characterised by recurring seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain, recently revealed how she had a bout mid-flight. This highlights the need for certain guard rails for people with this condition while travelling. “I was travelling to the USA and it was via Dubai. I got seizures on the flight. Then I was taken to the airport hospital, I was given the medication but then also my seizures weren’t stopping. Then they give me a very high dose,” she told the host of a podcast. She was heavily sedated and immobile due to the strong medication. “They gave me a certain chemical and I was already on a different chemical. In epilepsy you have to wean off one chemical before you can take another one. So, I was drugged,” she said, recalling there had been bad days when she could not get out of bed. What is epilepsy? Epilepsy is a brain disorder caused by abnormal activity in the brain neurons. “Sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain result in spasm-like attacks. These can vary from seizures or periods of unusual behaviour along with abnormal sensations and sometimes loss of awareness. The reason for this hyperactivity is because of chemical changes in neuropeptides or molecules that talk to cells. So electrical signals are scrambled,” says Dr Atul Prasad, HOD Neurology, BLK Max Super Speciality Hospital. It may be genetic or acquired, the latter a result of trauma, infections, metabolic disturbances, drug abuse and so on. What about treatment? It is controllable with medication. A newer gene therapy, to target the faulty gene or the brain areas causing seizures, is being trialled for efficacy, according to Dr Prasad. How to manage epilepsy while travelling? Seizure while traveling can be a major issue because it can create panic in people around you. “It can come across as an aggressive act and when it happens in a flight at 30,000 ft, you could become unconscious too,” says Dr Praveen Gupta, chairman, neurosciences, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Gurugram. “All you need to do is plan in detail,” he adds. He tells his patients to keep medication in the handbag and even SOS or emergency medicines. “Take a proper prescription so that you are allowed to carry your medicines. Take extra medicines so that you have a cushion in a foreign country. Also, carry your anti-epileptic medicines in two travel bags. So even if you are traveling with multiple carriers and in the eventuality of one bag being misplaced, your medicine schedule is maintained and your compliance is not broken,” Dr Gupta advises. If you are going on long flights and crossing time zones, set reminders on your watch for taking your medicines on time. “If you are using an implanted device like a VNS (vagus nerve stimulator, which prevents or lessens seizures by sending regular, mild pulses of electrical energy to the brain via the vagus nerve) carry a card and a doctor’s approval note,” says Dr Gupta. If you are travelling with somebody, let them know about emergency procedures, what medications you are carrying with you and where they are located in your bag. Sleep and food are two crucial parts of epilepsy management. “If you lose sleep for long hours and don't take food, you are increasing the risk of seizures. So ensure that you plan your travel in such a way that you do not put a lot of strain on your sleeping. Plan a layover. Keep yourself hydrated,” says Dr Gupta.
