Actress Bar Belef's Death Highlights Dangers of Epilepsy

Actress Bar Belef, known for her leading role in the film "Someone to Run With," passed away at the age of 37 following an epileptic seizure. Her tragic death serves as a stark reminder that epilepsy, often perceived as merely causing seizures, can in rare instances be life-threatening, according to Dr. Moshe Hershkovitz of Rambam Health Care Campus, representing the Israeli League Against Epilepsy and the Neurological Association of Israel.

While most seizures resolve within minutes, prolonged seizures, injuries sustained during an episode, or Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) can pose significant risks. Hershkovitz noted that while the exact cause of Belef's death is unknown, SUDEP is a sudden, unexplained death in individuals with epilepsy, occurring in about one in 1,000 adults with the condition annually, particularly those with uncontrolled generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

Hershkovitz emphasized the critical importance of timing during a seizure, stating that a seizure lasting five minutes or a subsequent seizure before consciousness is regained constitutes a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention. He also stressed that immediate medical attention is necessary if a seizure occurs in water, results in severe injury, or if the person has difficulty breathing or does not wake up afterward, even if the seizure itself was brief.

Hershkovitz urged the public to understand that most people with epilepsy can lead full lives with proper treatment, regular monitoring by an epilepsy specialist, and seizure control. He advised against self-adjusting medication and encouraged patients to discuss any challenges with their neurologist. The article also highlights a significant shortage of epilepsy specialists in Israel, with approximately 15 experts serving over 90,000 individuals with epilepsy, leading to limited access to specialized care.

Prof. Yoav Chapman, chairman of the Neurological Association of Israel, pointed out that less than half of Israeli hospitals have an epilepsy clinic due to the physician shortage. He called on the Ministry of Health to allocate budgets to attract young doctors to neurology and suggested establishing dedicated epilepsy units within neurology departments, similar to stroke units, to improve care for those with ongoing seizures.