Epilepsy Awareness
What is Epilepsy? Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain s electrical system. Abnormal electrical impulses cause brief changes in movement, behavior, sensation or awareness. These interruptions, known as seizures, may last from a few seconds to a few minutes. People who have had two or more seizures are considered to have epilepsy.
Causes of Epilepsy There is a clear cause for epilepsy in only a minority of the cases. Typically, the known causes of seizure involve some injury to the brain. Some of the main causes of epilepsy include: low oxygen during birth head injuries that occur during birth or from accidents during youth or adulthood brain tumors genetic conditions that result in brain injury, such as tuberous sclerosis infections such as meningitis or encephalitis stroke or any other type of damage to the brain abnormal levels of substances such as sodium or blood sugar
Epilepsy Symptoms Epilepsy is best known for causing convulsions. But seizures can trigger a wide range of symptoms from starring, to falling to fumbling. Doctors divides seizures into several types depending on how the brain is affected. Each type has a distinct set of symptoms.
who knew? Epilepsy is called the stealth disease, but it s difficult to imagine how so few people can know about a disease that affects so many. For example, few people know: Epilepsy affects over 3 million Americans of all ages more than Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, and Parkinson s Disease combined. In America, Epilepsy is as common as Breast Cancer, and takes as many lives.
more facts about epilepsy Almost 500 new cases of Epilepsy are diagnosed every day in the United States. Epilepsy affects 50,000,000 people worldwide. Up to 50,000 Americans die each year from seizures and related causes. Risk of sudden death among those with Epilepsy is twenty-four times greater.
famous people with epilepsy Aristotle Hercules Neil Young Vusi Mahlasela Michelangelo Hugo Weaving Julius Caesar Edgar Allan Poe Vincent Van Gogh Charles Dickens Harriet Tubman Agatha Christie Florence Joyner Flo Jo Tiki Barber (NFL) Elton John Lil Wayne Prince Susan Boyle Mitchell Guist Adam Horovitz Theodore Roosevelt James Madison
primary generalized seizures Absence seizures Atypical absence seizures Myoclonic seizures Atonic seizures Tonic seizures Clonic seizures Tonic-Clonic seizures
partial seizures Simple partial seizures Complex partial seizures Secondarily generalized seizures
It s not polite to stare, unless of course you don t realize that you are ABSENCE SEIZURES are often described as staring spells. The person stops what he or she is doing and stares vacantly for a few seconds, then continues as if nothing happened. This type of a seizure is more common in children and usually starts between the ages of 4 and 12. Some children experience up to 100 absence seizures a day.
TONIC CLONIC SEIZURES (also know as grand mal seizures) are the most easily recognized. They usually begin with a stiffening of the arms and legs, followed by jerking motions. The convulsions last up to 3 minutes, after which the person may be tired or confused. This type of seizure involves abnormal electrical activity involving both sides of the brain.
With partial seizures, just one side of the brain is affected. Simple partial seizures may cause jerking motions or hallucinations, but the person often remains aware of what is happening. During complex partial seizures, people may wander, smack their lips or fumble with their clothes. They appear to be conscious to observers but are usually actually unaware of what they are doing.
causes of epilepsy Epilepsy may result from anything that disrupts the brain s natural circuitry, such as- Severe head injury Brain infection or disease Oxygen deprivation In nearly 2/3 of people with epilepsy, a specific cause is never found
Epilepsy in children Children who are diagnosed with epilepsy may outgrow the condition in a few years. In the meantime, many kids are able to prevent seizures by taking regular medication. If prescribed drugs fail to keep seizures under control, other precautions may be needed. A well-informed school staff can help a child with epilepsy safely participate in most activities.
To diagnose epilepsy a doctor will review the description of an individual s seizures, along with a medical history and physical exam. An EEG (electroencephalogram) can confirm the diagnosis and offer more information about the seizures. This painless procedure records the brain s electrical activity as wavy lines. The pattern changes during a seizure may reveal which part of the brain is prone to seizures results may help guide treatment. diagnosis: eeg
diagnosis: brain scan Detailed images of the brain from CT or MRI scans can help doctors rule out tumors or blood clots as a possible cause of seizures. This information is essential in planning surgery to treat epilepsy.
Epilepsy complications Most people with epilepsy live a normal lifespan and rarely suffer from injuries from their seizures. Patients who tend to fall during seizures may need a special helmet to protect their head. some types of seizures may increase the risk of sudden, unexplained death, but this is extremely uncommon. The best way to avoid complications is to find a treatment that controls seizures and stick to it.
epilepsy safety precautions Because seizures often strike without warning, certain activities are dangerous for people with epilepsy. Losing consciousness while swimming or even taking a bath could be life threatening. The same goes for many extreme sports, such as mountain climbing. Most states require a person with epilepsy to be seizure free for a certain amount of time before driving a car.
treatment: medication Anti-seizure drugs are the most common treatment for epilepsy. About 2/3 of people become seizure free by taking their medication regularly
treatment: Ketogenic Diet When followed carefully, this kind of diet can eliminate or nearly eliminate seizures in a third of children with epilepsy. The diet is very high in fat and low in carbs, a combination that makes the body burn fat instead of sugar. This creates changes in the brain that reduce or eliminate seizures. It is a very strict diet that is created by a dietitian and monitored by a medical team
VNS stands for vagus nerve stimulation, a treatment that is sometimes called a pacemaker for the brain. It uses a small surgically implanted device to send electrical pulses to the brain. The pulses travel via the vagus nerve, a large nerve in the neck. VNS is an option for people who don t do well with medication. treatment: vns
treatment: surgery In people who have had partial seizures or grand mal, surgery can sometimes offer a cure. First, the medical team must determine that the seizures consistently begin in a single area of the brain. If so, removing this area may stop the seizures for good or make them easier to manage with medication. Surgery may also be done to treat an underlying condition that s causing seizures, such as a brain tumor.
My surgery On July 5, 2011 I opted to have surgery at the IHC in Salt Lake City. The doctors targeted the frontal lobe of my brain that was causing my grand mal seizures
My Surgery They had to saw a window into the top of my skull and remove some brain tissue that was about 1/3 the size of a Twinkie. As you can see from the staples, the incision was about one fourth of the top of my scalp.
first aid for seizures If you see someone having a seizure, take the following steps Time the seizure with your watch Clear the area of anything hard or sharp Loosen anything at the neck that may impair breathing Turn the person onto his or her side Put something soft beneath the head
treatment for status seizures Prolonged or recurring seizures may be a condition called status epilepticus. This can have serious complications and requires emergency treatment. To bring the seizures to an end quickly, hospitals typically administer a sequence of drugs by IV and supplemental oxygen.
epilepsy and pregnancy In most cases, it is safe for women with epilepsy to become pregnant and start a family. More than 90% of babies born to women with epilepsy are healthy. However, it is best to consult your doctor before getting pregnant. It may be necessary to adjust your anti-seizure medication. Some drugs appear to be less risky during pregnancy than others.
Some dogs appear to sense a persons seizure before it begins, providing an early warning system. But more research is needed before seizure alert dogs are widely used. In the meantime, many dogs can be trained to behave in a certain way during a seizure. For example, the dog can lie next to the person to help prevent injury. In the case of a child, the dog might be trained to alert the parents during a seizure. seizure dogs
epilepsy research Researchers continue to pursue new therapies for epilepsy with 2 important goals. The first is to increase the number of people who can fully control their seizures. The second is to reduce the side effects of the treatment. Some researchers are also studying implantable devices that could alert patients when a seizure is about to occur.
Living with epilepsy People with epilepsy can enjoy full, active lives. Most are able to live seizure free by taking medication on schedule. For the remainder, there are many resources for coping with uncontrolled seizures. A specialist can help create strategies for reducing the impact seizures have on your life. The American Academy of Neurology and the Epilepsy Foundation provide listings of neurologists who specialize in epilepsy.