According to recent research, people who suffer from epilepsy should not sleep on their stomach because they face increased risks of sudden death. The new study makes a parallel with the sudden infant death syndromes in newborn babies.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that affects more than 50 million people around the world and is associated with repeated seizures.
One of the researchers involved in the new study, James Tao from the University of Chicago, says that one of the main causes of death in patients who suffer from uncontrolled epilepsy is sudden unexpected death.
For this new study, scientists analyzed the data from 25 cases that included sudden unexpected deaths. These cases involved the body position in which the patients had died.
The study revealed that 73% of the deceased were found on their stomach, while 27% died in other positions. The scientists also found that people who were younger than 40 were more likely to be found on their stomach at the time of death.
The scientists discovered that 11 people died of sudden death while they were being monitored. Also, the patients’ sleeping positions were recorded. The study revealed that adults who suffer from epilepsy cannot wake up after a seizure, especially when they are having a general seizure.
Professor Tao said that recent findings reveal very important information on how to prevent sudden unexpected death in patients who suffer from epilepsy. Tao added that sleeping on the back is one of the best strategies to prevent it, also advising patients with epilepsy to use special wrist watches and bed alarms that were specially designed to detect epileptic seizures that occur during sleep.
Recent statistics reveal that more than 50 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy. The reports also show that 0.3% of them die of an unexpected death. Out of the 0.3%, approximately 70% die while sleeping.
One of the researchers involved in the study suggested that people who suffer from epilepsy should put a tennis ball in a front pocket of a shirt because that would wake them in case they roll on their stomach during sleep.
Image Source: easy1001
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