Patient's question:
My cousin from my aunt's family suffered from epilepsy last year. He used to have excellent academic performance, but after developing epilepsy, he experienced unpredictable seizures. He couldn't go to school, and when he had a seizure, he would lie on the ground unconscious, twitching all over his body—it was quite terrifying. So now he takes medicine every day at home. When he's feeling better, he watches TV. Can epilepsy patients watch TV for long periods of time?Doctor's answer:
Not acceptable. In recent years, cases of epilepsy () caused by long-term television viewing have become increasingly common, primarily affecting adolescents, accounting for approximately one-third of epilepsy patients in this age group. Epilepsy () relapses are triggered by abnormal excitement in the cerebral cortex, with a wide range of contributing factors, including fatigue, emotional distress, olfactory and visual stimuli. Among these, epilepsy caused by flashing light stimuli is clinically referred to as "photosensitive epilepsy ()." Additionally, during the treatment of epilepsy patients, dietary condition and care are also crucial. Patients must ensure adequate vitamin intake, prevent stomach issues, and maintain a light diet to avoid unnecessary harm.