Sippin on some Seizure-urp
If you’re a Hip Hop fan, chances are you've heard about a famous rapper being hospitalized after having a seizure (i.e. Lil Wayne, Rick Ross). In classic Hip Hop hype fashion, rumorville speculates on what causes seizures in rappers that eventually land them in the hospital. Was it weed? Molly? Had to be the sizzurp they were drinking, right? No, no, he’s just “working too hard,” that’s gotta be it.

THE BASICS: It may be helpful to understand what exactly a seizure is before we dive too deep. Imagine your brain as your PC or laptop. Computers are composed of wires with electricity flowing through them. Your brain has electricity flowing through it too (literally), and the “wires” are known as neurons. You may have noticed that once in a while when you try to do too much on your computer (i.e. having too many programs opened at once while downloading something at the same time), it will “spaz out.” Sometimes the screen freezes, other times your mouse won’t work for a few seconds, and sometimes it’ll just shut down and reboot! It all depends on where the “hiccup” took place in your computer, and if it can figure out the problem. Our brains are like computers in a lot of ways.

There is a constant flow of electricity firing through neurons in our brains, even when we’re not “using it” (i.e during sleep). Just like your computer, your brain gets revved up when you’re using it to do more complex activities. For example, when you’re stressed out and have thoughts racing through your mind, or when you simply get excited and are feeling great. All those feelings cause different parts of your brain to fire off electrical signals, but how well our brains handle those huge waves of electrical signals varies from person to person.

Ever notice how some people get excited and instantaneously start to cry? Some people get lightheaded when they’re upset and need to sit down. Others have seizures if they watch a movie with too many flashing lights. In most cases it all has to do with how the person’s brain processes information and signals it takes in, and whether their brain is able to handle it. The brains “ability to not be overwhelmed” is what brings us to the main point of this discussion: Seizure Threshold.

SEIZURE THRESHOLD: For the most part, our brains are wired the same way. But, much like our computer analogy, we know despite looking the same, computers differ in what they can do. The brain is similar. Our brains are constantly processing information that “travels” from place to place in our brain as electricity. The more excitement, information, or emotion racing through your brain, the more electricity needed.

BREAK ON THROUGH: Each of us has a seizure threshold, but there are two things to keep in mind about them:
1. We do not all have the same threshold levels.
2. Our threshold levels can be moved (up or down).
If we assume rappers that have seizures live the stereotypical “hip-hop party lifestyle” being portrayed in most of their videos and music, lets take a look at things that may actually be changing rappers’ seizure threshold:

A) Molly

B) Sizzurp

C) Stress / Lack of Sleep
D) Alcohol

E) Marijuana