PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A Philadelphia girl is preventing epilepsy with martial arts, a method to additionally enhance health whereas lowering stress and anxiousness. For Jessie Lentz, it is giving her a particular sort of independence.
Lentz says martial arts have been a lifesaver for her.
“I needed to have the ability to defend myself,” she mentioned, “and fell in love with it.”
Lentz is an emergency division technician at Jefferson Hospital. Not solely can she defend herself now due to this coaching, however she says it additionally helps preserve seizures below management.
A bout with viral meningitis led to Lentz being identified with epilepsy in 2005.
“What folks have to know is that it is common,” Dr. Michael Sperling, neurologist, mentioned. “It is one of the widespread neurological circumstances that exist,” “Usually, the trigger isn’t recognized.”
Sperling, the director of the Jefferson Epilepsy Middle, says seizures from epilepsy can typically be managed by medicines.
That did not work for Lentz.
“My seizures began to worsen in 2009,” she mentioned.
Lentz ended up having mind surgical procedure to regulate the seizures. That labored for some time after which she had an enormous stroke.
“As a consequence of martial arts, I used to be in a position to preserve my left facet,” she mentioned.
She says she’s been in a position to overcome weak spot from the stroke along with her exercises that don’t contain any head contact and it helps her management stress, which might preserve the seizures in examine.
“Something that entails coaching, growing of expertise growing, self-confidence is nice psychologically,” Sperling mentioned, “and it is helpful.”
Sperling, who’s Lentz’s physician, says folks with seizure problems have to examine with their very own physician earlier than making an attempt any new train.
It has been a winner for Lentz, who has a tattoo that claims, “I used to be solely given this life as a result of I am robust sufficient to reside it.”
“I by no means thought I’d go this far, I assumed I’d get the primary diploma and I am accomplished,” she mentioned, “however I fell in love with it. And now I’m a third-degree black belt.”
Sperling says there is not any science exhibiting martial arts immediately impression epilepsy, however staying in form with managed actions may be helpful to total well being and helps with stress.
November is Nationwide Epilepsy Consciousness Month, recognizing the three.5 million Individuals dwelling with the situation, which incorporates about half 1,000,000 kids.
