Brief Introduction of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in which the electrical activity of the brain is disturbed, causing seizures. Seizures happen when large groups of nerve cells send abnormal signals to each other. The two main types of seizures are generalized seizures and partial seizures. Generalized seizures begin with abnormal brain activity on both sides of the brain and cause loss of consciousness and convulsions. Partial seizures begin in one part of the brain and may cause unusual sensations, smells, tastes, emotions or behavior.

Epilepsy is characterized by recurring unprovoked seizures that interfere with normal thinking and behavior. A person is considered to have epilepsy if they have had at least two unprovoked seizures that were not caused by some known condition such as high fever. The risk for epilepsy is highest among people who have had an injury to the head, but it can also run in families.

Understanding Seizures

A seizure is just a symptom of epilepsy. It means that a part of the brain has misfired, and it causes irregular electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can happen for a number of reasons, including overexcitement or overuse of a particular area of the brain. However, having one seizure does not mean that you have epilepsy; only two unprovoked seizures are needed for a diagnosis. There are hundreds of different types of seizures (just like there are hundreds of different types of cancer), and they can range from mild to severe in terms of their effects on the body. The right kind of treatment can help some people avoid further seizures, while others will have to learn how to live with them.

Seizure Triggers

Seizure triggers are things that can cause seizures in people who are susceptible to them. There is a huge range of seizure triggers. Some common ones are:

• Bright or flashing lights
• Alcohol, caffeine, and sugar
• Loud noises
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Sudden changes in activity level
• Being over-tired or stressed

Seizure triggers can vary from person to person. So it’s important to ask your doctor about your own triggers and learn what you need to watch out for.

If you’ve never had a seizure, it can be hard to imagine what it’s like: the flashing lights and patterns, the strange feeling in your body that soon begins to feel normal, and then the blankness. Many people have blogged about their experiences with seizures, and they’re all different—for some people, seizures are mild but scary; others have no memory of their seizures at all. Regardless of their type or severity, though, they’re all scary and unpredictable.

You may be surprised at some of the things that can trigger a seizure in someone with epilepsy. From medications to alcohol, to sleep deprivation or stress, all kinds of things can affect the body’s ability to regulate its own electrical impulses. Seizure triggers can vary from person to person too—one person might be able to drink a glass of wine without problems but another could have an episode after two sips. With so many variables and triggers out there both natural and man-made, it’s impossible to predict every possible situation where a seizure could occur.

Types of Seizures

There are two main categories of seizures, generalized and partial. Generalized seizures involve the entire brain and can impair consciousness, body movement, and awareness. Partial seizures occur in just one side of the brain and can affect one or more functions on just one side of the body.

Absence seizure: A sudden lack of awareness or consciousness during a routine task (such as reading, talking, eating) that lasts for a few seconds.

Atonic seizure: A sudden loss of muscle tone that usually involves the entire body and is caused by a disturbance in the part of the brain that controls movements.

Clonic seizure: Involuntary, rhythmic jerking motions that usually start in one area on one side of the body (such as an arm or leg) and then spread to other parts of the body.

Complex partial seizure: Symptoms similar to a minor stroke or other neurological disorder, including visual hallucinations and impaired awareness that may be mistaken for signs of psychosis. Complex partial seizures often evolve into generalized tonic-clonic seizures (see below).

Generalized tonic-clonic seizure (also called grand mal): A full seizure characterized by loss of consciousness, stiffening muscles and jerking movements.

Epilepsy Syndromes

Epilepsy syndromes are classified into two large categories: generalized and partial. Generalized syndromes encompass epilepsy syndromes that begin as partial syndromes (which are then later generalized) but also encompass epilepsies that start out or remain generalized from the beginning. Partial seizures involve localized activity in one area of the brain, usually affecting a smaller region than generalized seizures. Partial seizures may involve unusual sensations, smells, emotions, and/or movements.

If you have recurrent seizures that affect only one part of your body, such as an arm or leg, you have a partial seizure disorder called simple partial seizure disorder. If your seizures involve more than one part of your body and/or a change in consciousness, you have complex partial seizure disorder.

Facts & Statistics About Epilepsy

Epilepsy affects people of all races, ethnicities, religions, and socioeconomic backgrounds. It can be a hidden disability that leads to social isolation and other long-term health issues such as depression or anxiety. In addition to seizures, there are many other less visible symptoms that people living with epilepsy experience such as cognitive impairment, fatigue, or mood disorders. These symptoms can lead to reduced ability to work and participate fully in social activities.

Approximately one-third of people with epilepsy are unable to drive or hold down a job because they experience too many seizures. Some medications used to treat epilepsy can cause fatigue and mood changes that make it difficult for people to maintain employment or perform at school or work. There is also a higher risk for injuries due to falls during a seizure and for death from sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP).

Causes of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition that causes recurrent seizures. Seizures are episodes of disturbed brain activity, which can cause convulsions, loss of consciousness and other symptoms.

There are several different types of epileptic seizures; in fact, the type is one of the first things doctors look at when they’re trying to diagnose epilepsy. The two most common types are generalized seizures (which start in both hemispheres of the brain) and partial seizures (which start in only one hemisphere).

Epilepsy can be caused by any number of factors; here are just a few of them:

Genetics – It’s not uncommon for epilepsy to run in families. It can be passed down simply through genes or it may be due to a genetic mutation.

Epileptic encephalopathy – This means that part of the brain has been damaged by an illness, such as meningitis or a stroke.

Epileptic focus – This refers to focal seizures, which start in one area of the brain. An epileptic focus is often the result of scar tissue that forms after a brain injury.

Epileptogenic zone – This refers to areas in the brain where epilepsy-related nerve cells are abnormally active.

Diagnosis of Epilepsy

A diagnosis of epilepsy requires that the patient have had two or more unprovoked seizures separated by at least 24 hours. Any type of seizure can be considered “unprovoked.” The person may experience any number of symptoms before, during or after a seizure occurs. These include:

• Symptoms similar to those caused by fever
• Cold sweats
• Rashes
• Changes in vision
• Numbness or tingling sensation in hands, arms, legs and feet
• A feeling of fear or panic
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness (passing out) or being unable to speak for a short period of time
• A blank stare
• Stiffening body muscles

Epilepsy Treatment

Medications are the first-line treatment for epilepsy, but surgery is often performed if medications are unsuccessful, produce adverse effects or are accompanied by uncontrolled seizures. This is especially true in children who have epilepsy that is difficult to control, and adults who have failed to become seizure-free with monotherapy. The ketogenic diet is an established treatment for children with drug-resistant epilepsy. It consists of high fat, low carbohydrate and adequate protein content that mimics the metabolic changes seen during fasting. As a result, seizure control can be achieved without the side effects associated with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs).

Complications and Risks of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain characterized by recurring seizures. It’s often diagnosed in childhood, and in many cases can be very well-managed. However, it can also lead to a variety of long-term complications and health risks.

These include:

• Long-term psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia
• Cardiovascular issues such as heart attack or stroke
• Low quality of life, depression, or poor self-esteem
• The danger of SUDEP (sudden unexpected death in epilepsy)

A major misconception about epilepsy is that people with it are somehow immune to physical harm, which can lead to a lack of care for their own health and safety. This could result in them missing checkups or accepting unnecessary health risks. In fact, people with epilepsy are just as susceptible to serious injuries as anyone else—a seizure while driving could lead to an accident that results in serious injury or even death.