Rick Ross Blames Lack Of Sleep For Seizures. What's The Connection?

Rapper Rick Ross opened up on BET's "106 & Park" yesterday, discussing, for the first time, the two seizures he suffered on an October 14th flight to Memphis. "It was a case of me not getting enough rest, enough sleep," he said.

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According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, seizures are often triggered by factors such as lack of sleep, alcohol consumption, and stress. For women, hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle can also act as a trigger.

While these seizure triggers do not cause epilepsy, they can cause breakthrough seizures in people who otherwise experience good seizure control with their medication. "Sleep deprivation in particular is a universal and powerful trigger of seizures," NINDS says.

The National Sleep Foundation explains, at greater length, the inherent relationship between sleep and epilepsy:

Sleep activates the electrical charges in the brain that result in seizures and seizures are timed according to the sleep wake cycle. For some people, seizures occur exclusively during sleep. This is especially true for a particular type of epilepsy known as benign focal epilepsy of childhood, also known as Rolandic epilepsy. When seizures occur during sleep, they may cause awakenings that are sometimes confused with insomnia. Epilepsy patients are often unaware of the seizures that occur while they sleep. They may suffer for years from daytime fatigue and concentration problems without ever knowing why.

For people with epilepsy, sleep problems are a double-edged sword; epilepsy disturbs sleep and sleep deprivation aggravates epilepsy.

"For this reason, people with epilepsy should make sure to get enough sleep and should try to stay on a regular sleep schedule as much as possible," NINDS recommends.

Rick Ross says he hasn't had a good night's sleep in 5 years. And although his doctor has given him a clean bill of health, Ross says he's making room for naps, according to TMZ.

Comments

[Big Bill hayward]

02:39 AM on 12/30/2011

Venezuelan presidents know how it is yo'

[wizkid14]

03:02 PM on 11/02/2011

Lack of sleep will take you down and out! I'm glad he is on the mend. Good health Rosay!!

[Topps]

02:28 PM on 11/02/2011

I know your heart and knees could tell a different story.

[Garcia Gomez]

08:55 PM on 11/02/2011

u 4got hiz achin' back and the yeast that must flourish in the crease b-low hiz belly

[michelleobamaok]

10:15 AM on 11/02/2011

Just looking at him, I can confidently say: LIAR!

[domromain]

01:30 PM on 11/02/2011

WORD!!!! lmbo

http://cifemanscentercourt.blogspot.com/2011/11/week-8-topcats-top-games-of-week.html

[amd02148]

03:46 PM on 11/02/2011

Word? I can see you don't know ANYTHING about seizures. Heck, even many doctors don't understand the human brain, Lack of sleep is number one, not eating on a regular schedule number two. Alcohol in itself doesn't necessarily cause seizures, but if you drink on an empty stomach if can bring a seizure on. Even if you play a video game. Once the seizure is over, the person gets up walks around do you think because he had a seizure he should be in bed? the person feels a little sore but you go right on about your business. TRUST ME.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[amd02148]

03:37 PM on 11/02/2011

Why would you call him a LIAR???????????????

[Demil LeRoy]

10:10 AM on 11/02/2011

GET SOME REAL SLEEP AND DESTRESS RICK DON'T GO MJ'S ROUTE:

Propofol is a short-acting, intravenously administered hypnotic agent. Its uses include the procedural sedation.
Chemically, propofol is unrelated to barbiturates and has largely replaced sodium thiopental (Pentothal) for induction of anesthesia because recovery from propofol is more rapid and "clear" Propofol has been referred to as "milk of amnesia" (a pun on milk of magnesia), because of the milk-like appearance of its intravenous preparation.[2]

[Yam716]

02:41 PM on 11/02/2011

He needs to do more than get some sleep to get and stay healthy!

I don't see how he can so confidently walk around w/o a shirt! Must be the money!

[January James]

08:30 PM on 11/02/2011

he walks a(round) w/out a shirt 'cuz men possess confidence and self-esteem that women can only dream about. when i c hiz nzked belly i throw up a 'lil bit n my mouth every time