what is eplipsy
By: Tsou JinyeuTotal Views: 56, Word Count: 848,
Epilepsy is a common form of chronic neurological disorder which is characterized by recurrent and unprovoked seizures. It is the sign of abnormal, excessive and synchronous neuronal activity in the brain.
Epilepsy
- Millions of people from developing countries suffer from Epilepsy also called as a sacred disease
- Elliptical seizures were supposed to be attack of demon or visions experienced by persons with Epilepsy
- People with Epilepsy are shunned, stigmatized or even imprisoned
- Most of them are young children or adults above 65 years of age (it may occur at any age)
- The condition can be controlled but not cured with medication
- Many patients suffering from Epilepsy do not have seizure control even after using best medicine
- Surgery may be an option in some very difficult cases
- Epilepsy symptoms are not seen lifelong but during certain stages in childhood
- It is not a single disorder, but a syndrome with vastly divergent symptoms with abnormal electrical activity in the brain.
- There were many famous people with Epilepsy. In their cases Epilepsy is a footnote to their accomplishments.
- Another name for Epilepsy is temporal lobe Epilepsy
Causes of Epilepsy
Seizures (fits or convulsions) are caused by disturbed brain function that causes changes in behavior. It is caused because of the abnormally excited electrical signals in the brain
- Exposure to drugs
- Withdrawal from certain drugs
- High fever
- Abnormal levels of sodium or glucose in blood
- Permanent injury to brain cells
- Idiopathic i.e. cause cannot be identified
- Stroke or transient ischemic attack
- Brain deterioration due to illness
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Brain abscess, infection to brain
- Injuries during birth
Types of Epilepsy
Types of Epilepsy depend on the source of Epilepsy and if it is partial or distributed. Partial seizures are further divided according to the extent to which consciousness is affected.
- Simple Partial seizures
- Complex Partial seizures
Generalized or distributed seizures are divided according to the effect on body.
- Absence (petit mal)
- Myoclonic
- Clonic
- Tonic
- Tonic-clonic
- Atonic
Epilepsy symptoms
- Epilepsy symptoms have a wide range from staring to loss of conscioness or violent convulsions.
- Strange sensation is felt before the seizure. It may be some tingling, smelling an odor, emotional change, etc
- Hand clenching, knee bending, shouting, moaning or crying
- Drooling, drowsiness or light sleep, seizure of partial face muscles
- Blindness, impaired vision, symptoms similar to migraine with nausea, headache
- Brief episodes of unresponsive staring, eye blinking, subtle chewing
Epilepsy treatment
- There is no any known way to prevent Epilepsy. Recommendations to prevent Epilepsy include proper diet and sleep, avoid illegal drugs and alcohol
- Try and protect the person by making him sleep. Loosen tight clothes, especially around the neck area.
- Anticonvulsants are administered after consulting the doctor
- Blood tests and check ups are necessary to decide the doses and to monitor the progress
- Children may be kept on special diet called as ketogenic diet to prevent seizures. Ketogenic diet is low in carbohydrates and has a good effect in prevention of epilepsy
- Epilepsy surgery may be needed in certain complicated cases.
This article on Epilepsy will inform you about various aspects involved in epileptic seizure. Consult your doctor and get Epilepsy treatment as soon as you see Epilepsy symptoms.
About the Author
Dr. Tsou Jinyeu is a well known gynecologist and has been in this field since 1995. His special interests are – genetic and birth defects, high risk obstetrics, lupus in pregnancy, premature labour, premature delivery, triplets and ultrasound diagnosis. He is graduated from the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine. Nowdays he is working as a medical doctor at Elmhurst Loyola Center for Health
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