What is treat epilepsy
Epilepsy is a chronic condition that produces repeated, spontaneous seizures. A seizure is a burst of electrical activity in the brain that occurs suddenly.
Epilepsy can be divided into two categories. It involves the whole brain is known as generalized seizures. Focal seizures, also known as partial seizures, impact just one area of the brain.
It might be difficult to spot a minor seizure. It can last a few seconds and you won’t be aware of it.
Seizures that are more severe can produce muscular spasms and uncontrolled twitches, and they can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes. Some people get disoriented or lose consciousness after a stronger seizure. You may have no recollection of what happened afterward.
You might experience a seizure for a variety of causes. These are some of them:
- a high temperature
- Trauma to the head
- blood sugar levels are extremely low
- Withdrawal from booze
Epilepsy is a prevalent neurological condition that affects more than 65 million individuals worldwide. It affects around 3 million people in the United States.
Epilepsy may affect anybody, although it is more prevalent in young children and the elderly. It affects males somewhat more than females.
What are some of the signs and symptoms to treat epilepsy?
The most common sign of epilepsy is seizures. Symptoms vary from one individual to the next and depending on the type of seizure.
Seizures that are just partial (focal)
There is no loss of consciousness with a simple partial seizure. Among the signs and symptoms are:
- dizziness due to changes in taste, smell, sight, hearing, or touch
- limb tingling and twitching
There is a loss of awareness or consciousness with complex partial seizures. Other signs and symptoms include:
- unresponsiveness looking blankly
- making a series of motions
Seizures that are all over the place
There are six different types:
Absence seizures, often known as “petit mal seizures,” result in a blank gaze. Repetitive motions such as lip-smacking or blinking may occur as a result of this type of seizure. There is generally a brief loss of awareness as well.
Muscle stiffness is a side effect of tonic seizures.
Atonic seizures result in a lack of muscular control, which might cause you to fall down unexpectedly.
Grand mal seizures were once known as tonic-clonic seizures. Among the signs and symptoms are:
- the body stiffening
- shaking
- bladder or bowel control problems
- gnawing at the tongue
- consciousness loss
You may not recall having a seizure afterward, or you may feel somewhat unwell for a few hours.
What causes an epileptic seizure to occur?
Some people may recognize objects or conditions that can cause seizures.
The following are a handful of the most often cited triggers:
caffeine, alcohol, medications, or drugs skipping meals, overeating, or particular food ingredients lack sleep, sickness, or fever stress bright lights, flashing lights, or patterns coffee, alcohol, medicines, or drugs
Finding triggers isn’t always simple. A single occurrence does not always indicate that anything is a trigger.
Keeping a seizure notebook is a useful method to figure out what triggers your seizures. Make a note of the following after each seizure:
day and time of activity what was going on around you unusual sights smells, or sounds unusual stressors what you were eating or how long it had been since you’d eaten your level of fatigue and how well you slept the night before your level of fatigue and how well you slept the night before your level of fatigue and how well you slept the night before your level of fatigue and how well you slept the night before your level of fatigue and how well you slept the night before your level of fatigue and how well you slept
You may also check if your meds are working by keeping a seizure log. Take note of how you felt before and after your seizure, as well as any adverse effects.
When you go to the doctor, bring the journal with you. It might help you alter your medicines or look into other options.
Is epilepsy inherited?
There might be up to 500 genes linked to epilepsy. A natural “seizure threshold” may be inherited from your parents. You’re more susceptible to seizure triggers if you have a low seizure threshold. You’re less likely to experience seizures if your threshold is greater.
Epilepsy is a condition that can run in families. Even yet, the chances of inheriting the disease are slim. The majority of epilepsy parents do not have epileptic children.
Epilepsy affects around 1% of the population by the age of 20 or 1 in every 100 persons. If you have a parent who has epilepsy caused by a genetic mutation, your risk increases to 2 to 5%.
If your parent suffers from epilepsy,
Tuberous sclerosis and neurofibromatosis are two uncommon diseases that can induce seizures.
Epilepsy does not prevent you from having children. However, some epilepsy medicines might harm your unborn child. Don’t stop taking your prescriptions, but speak with your doctor before getting pregnant or as soon as you find out you’re expecting.
Consider scheduling a visit with a genetic counselor if you have epilepsy and are thinking about creating a family.
What is the cause of epilepsy?
The etiology of epilepsy is unknown in six out of ten persons. Seizures can be caused by a variety of factors.
The following are some of the possible causes:
- TBI stands for traumatic brain damage.
- After a brain injury, there is scarring on the brain (post-traumatic epilepsy)
- a severe sickness or a high temperature
- Stroke is the most common cause of epilepsy in adults over the age of 35.
- additional vascular conditions
- oxygen deficiency in the brain
- cyst or tumor in the brain
- Alzheimer’s disease is a kind of dementia.
Prenatal drug use, prenatal damage, brain abnormality, or a shortage of oxygen at delivery are all factors to consider.
AIDS and meningitis are examples of infectious illnesses.
neurological illnesses or genetic or developmental problems
In some forms of epilepsy, heredity plays a role. Epilepsy has a 1% probability of developing before the age of 20 in the general population. If you have a parent who has epilepsy that is connected to genetics, your risk rises to 2 to 5%.
Environmental factors may also make certain people more prone to seizures due to genetics.
Epilepsy may strike anybody at any time. Early infancy or beyond the age of 60 are the most common times for a diagnosis.
Epilepsy is diagnosed in a variety of ways
If you think you’ve had a seizure, call your doctor right away. A seizure might be a sign of a more serious medical condition.
Your doctor will use your medical history and symptoms to determine which tests are necessary. A neurological examination will most likely be performed to assess your motor ability and mental functions.
Blood tests can be performed to check for the following things:
- Infectious illness symptoms
- function of the liver and kidneys
- glucose levels in the blood
The electroencephalogram (EEG) is the most frequent test for an epilepsy diagnosis. A paste is used to connect electrodes to your scalp. It’s a painless, noninvasive test. It’s possible that you’ll be requested to do a certain assignment. In certain circumstances, the test is carried out while the patient is sleeping. The electrodes will capture your brain’s electrical activity. Changes in normal brain wave patterns are frequent in epilepsy, whether or not you’re having a seizure.
Tumors and other abnormalities that might cause seizures can be detected via imaging testing. These testing might include the following:
X-rays.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a kind of positron emission tomography (PET)
computational tomography using single-photon emission
If you experience seizures for no apparent reason, you may have epilepsy.
New therapies are still being researched. Deep brain stimulation is one therapy that may become available in the future. Electrodes are inserted into your brain during this operation. Then, in your chest, a generator is installed. To assist reduce seizures, the generator transmits electrical impulses to the brain.
A pacemaker-like device is another area of investigation. To halt a seizure, it would assess the pattern of brain activity and deliver an electrical charge or a medication.
Epilepsy medication
Ant seizure medicine is the first-line therapy for epilepsy. These medications aid in the reduction of seizure frequency and severity. They can’t halt a seizure that’s already started, and they can’t cure epilepsy.
The stomach is responsible for the absorption of the medicine. Then it goes to the brain via the bloodstream. It works by reducing the electrical activity that causes seizures by affecting neurotransmitters.
Anti-seizure medicines travel via the gastrointestinal system and are excreted in the urine.
There are several anti-seizure medications available. Depending on the type of seizures you experience, your doctor may prescribe a single medication or a combination of treatments.
These medicines are usually given once or twice a day and come in tablet, liquid, or injectable form. You’ll start with the smallest dose possible and gradually increase it until it starts to function. These drugs must be taken on a regular basis and according to the instructions.
Is surgery a possibility for treating epilepsy?
If medicine fails to reduce the number of seizures, surgery is another possibility.
Resection is the most usual procedure. This entails eliminating the portion of the brain that causes the seizures. Temporal lobectomy is the most common operation for removing the temporal lobe. This can, in some circumstances, put an end to seizure activity.
You may be kept awake throughout this procedure in some instances. This allows physicians to speak with you and avoid destroying a portion of your brain that controls vital processes including vision, hearing, speech, and movement.
If the affected region of the brain is too large or critical to remove, a method is known as multiple subapical transactions, or disconnection can be used. To disrupt the neural route, the surgeon makes incisions in the brain. Seizures are prevented from spreading to other parts of the brain as a result of this.
Some patients are able to reduce or even stop using ant seizure medicines after surgery.
Any operation carries dangers, such as a poor anesthetic response, bleeding, and infection. When the brain is operated on, it is not uncommon for cognitive alterations to occur. Before making a final decision, discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the various treatments with your surgeon and get a second opinion.
Dietary advice for epilepsy patients
Children with epilepsy are frequently advised to follow a ketogenic diet. This diet is heavy in fats and low in carbs. The keto diet encourages the body to burn fat instead of glucose for energy, a condition known as ketosis.
A doctor must closely supervise children who are on this diet.
The ketogenic diet is not for everyone. However, when followed correctly, it can help to reduce the frequency of seizures. Some forms of epilepsy respond better to it than others.
A modified Atkins diet may be advised for epileptic teenagers and adults. This diet is also heavy in fat and carbohydrate-controlled.
The modified Atkins diet reduces seizures in around half of the individuals who try it. It’s possible to notice results in as little as a few months.
Constipation is a typical adverse effect of these diets since they are low in fiber and rich in fat.
Before beginning a new diet, see your doctor ensure you’re receiving enough nutrition. In any case, avoiding processed foods can help you live a healthier life.
Is there a link between epilepsy and behavior?
Those with epilepsy have more learning and behavioral issues than children without epilepsy. There’s a link every now and then. However, epilepsy isn’t necessarily to blame for these issues.
Epilepsy affects 15 to 35 percent of children with intellectual impairments. They are frequently caused by the same thing.
Some people modify their behavior in the minutes or hours leading up to a seizure.
- inattentiveness
- irritability
- hyperactivity \aggressiveness
The lives of children with epilepsy may be filled with uncertainty
It’s scary to think of having a seizure in front of your friends and classmates. These emotions might lead to an outburst or withdrawal from social circumstances in a kid.
Over time, most youngsters learn to adjust. Social dysfunction can persist into adulthood for certain people. Between 30 and 70 percent of epilepsy patients also suffer from depression, anxiety, or both.
Anti-seizure medicines might affect your behavior as well. Changing or adjusting your medication might help.
Individual therapy may also be beneficial.
Here are some things you can do to cope, in addition to going to the doctor on a regular basis and sticking to your treatment plan:
Keep a seizure journal to help you discover potential triggers and avoid them.
Wear a medical alert bracelet so that others will know what to do if you have a seizure and are unable to communicate.
Teach your closest friends and family members about seizures and what to do in an emergency.
If you’re experiencing signs of sadness or anxiety, get professional treatment.
Become a member of a seizure condition support group. Eat a well-balanced diet and exercise on a regular basis to maintain your health.
Is there a way to get rid of epilepsy?
Although there is no cure for epilepsy, early treatment can help.
Seizures that are uncontrollable or last for an extended period of time might cause brain damage. Epilepsy also increases the chance of dying without warning.
It is possible to properly manage the condition. Medication may usually be used to manage seizures.
Seizures can be reduced or eliminated using two types of brain surgery. One technique, known as resection, is removing the region of the brain that causes seizures.
The surgeon can conduct a disconnection when the region of the brain responsible for seizures is too important or big to remove. This entails cutting into the brain to disrupt the neural route.
According to a recent study, 81 percent of patients with severe epilepsy were seizure-free or almost seizure-free six months following surgery. After ten years, 72 percent of the participants remained seizure-free or virtually seizure-free.
Numerous additional lines of investigation into the causes, treatments, and potential therapies for epilepsy are now underway.
Although there is no cure at this time, the correct therapy can improve your condition and quality of life dramatically.
Statistics and facts about epilepsy
Epilepsy affects 65 million individuals worldwide. This includes around 3 million people in the United States, where 150,000 new epilepsy cases are identified each year.
It’s possible that up to 500 genes are linked to epilepsy in some way. The chance of having epilepsy before the age of 20 is around 1% for most persons. Having a parent with genetically related epilepsy increases your chances by 2 to 5%.
Stroke is a leading cause of epilepsy in adults over the age of 35. The cause of a seizure is unknown in 6 out of 10 persons.
Epilepsy affects 15 to 30% of children with intellectual impairments. Epilepsy affects 30 to 70 percent of individuals, and 30 to 70 percent of persons with epilepsy also suffer from depression, anxiety, or both.
About 1% of persons with epilepsy experience sudden, inexplicable death.
Around 60% to 70% of patients with epilepsy respond well to the first anti-epilepsy medication they use. After two to five years, around half of the people may stop taking their medicines without having a seizure.
Because scientists haven’t identified a medication that works, one-third of patients with epilepsy suffer uncontrollable seizures. A ketogenic diet helps more than half of patients with epilepsy who don’t respond to medicines. Half of adults who try a mojito are satisfied with the results.
Famous celebrities with epilepsy
Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne, the rap artist, recently opened up about the illness he’s had for much of his life. When he suffered a series of seizures in 2013, he was admitted to the hospital. They happened after filming a music video, and it was thought that a busy schedule and lack of sleep were to blame. “No warning, no nothing, I don’t feel sick,” Wayne remarked, recalling this terrifying period. I have a lot of headaches. What about the headaches? I didn’t have any headaches or anything like that.”
Lil Wayne said in an interview after his recovery that he had had many seizures throughout his life. By speaking openly about his epilepsy and what it’s like to have a seizure, the rapper is trying to educate his millions of followers about the illness.
Roosevelt, Theodore
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, was arguably most recognized for his conservation initiatives, but despite various health issues, he remained active outdoors. Asthma, eye difficulties, and epileptic convulsions were among them. Roosevelt didn’t talk openly about epilepsy because of stigmas and eugenic efforts at the time, but he did speak out about overcoming obstacles. “Far better is it to undertake big things, to gain spectacular triumphs, even if marred by failure,” he was quoted as saying.
then to join the ranks of the wretched souls who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they dwell in a murky twilight where triumph and loss are unknown.” “Courage is not having the strength to continue; it is continuing when you don’t have the strength,” he said.
Quotes like this may truly encourage anyone. They may, however, motivate people who face unique problems on a daily basis, such as epilepsy.
Greene, Dai
Dai Greene, an Olympic athlete, is an example of how one’s living habits may have a significant impact on one’s health. Despite having epilepsy, the British track and field hurdler hasn’t had a seizure in years.
After medicine failed to stop his seizures, Greene recognized that they were caused by alcohol, stress, and a lack of sleep. He made a lifestyle shift, abstaining from drinking and improving his diet.
Greene told The Guardian in 2011 that his family was first suspicious of the improvements. “But they were OK until I addressed it with my physician, who agreed to let me go off the medicine because I’d drastically changed my lifestyle,” he continued. I had stopped drinking.
So I wasn’t worried about putting myself in a situation where I’d have another seizure. I don’t drink alcohol very much anymore. I’ve had a few late-season evenings where I’ve gone out drinking, but as long as I spend the next day in bed, I’m OK. My partner also doesn’t drink, which helps.”
While we applaud Greene for naturally conquering these obstacles, you should not quit taking your medicines without first consulting your doctor. Without contacting a doctor, no one with a medical problem should rely only on lifestyle modifications. However, Dai’s experience demonstrates that a healthy lifestyle may be an excellent complement to expert medical care.
Neil Young
Neil Young, the legendary singer-songwriter, has had epilepsy for a long time. He also has a daughter who was born with the disease. He discusses his epilepsy and other physical issues in his book, “Waging Heavy Peace.” He even goes into detail about a similar medical treatment he had years ago. The treatment, which is now illegal, was unpleasant and did little to alleviate his condition. “It involves having a radioactive dye injected into your nervous system — basically into your back, so it travels straight into your nervous system,” he explains. They generally get some air bubbles and other things in there as well, so it’s terrible when they travel through your head.”
Susan Boyle
The woman who made waves with her wonderful voice on “Britain’s Got Talent” has also revealed that she suffers from epilepsy. Throughout her youth, the unexpected celebrity battled the illness. She has spoken about her challenges, saying, “At school, I used to faint a lot.” It’s something I’ve never mentioned before. I suffered from epilepsy. Things like that are not available to those in the public spotlight. They used to tell me that epilepsy had something to do with mental function when I was a kid. And now I see that it isn’t the case. All of those obstacles were in my way. It wasn’t an easy task.”
Boyle has been candid about her handicap and how it has hampered her career.
Rick Harrison
Fans know him as the savvy proprietor of the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop and the star of the reality show “Pawn Stars.” Rick Harrison suffers from epilepsy, which many of his followers are unaware of. Harrison credits his interest in history to the fact that he was forced to spend so much of his childhood alone within the house. “Because of my seizures, I was forced to spend a lot of time in bed in my room away from the television when I was a kid,” Harrison told the Epilepsy Foundation. I found that reading was the greatest way to pass the time, therefore I became quite interested in history books.” He eventually developed a lifetime interest in the subject.
Diet for epilepsy
Epilepsy seizures may be reduced by following a low-carb, high-fat diet.
Antiepileptic medication therapy allows 60-65 percent of epilepsy patients to become seizure-free. Medication resistance affects the remaining 35%. However, a review of recent studies published in Neurology suggests that a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet may be a potential alternative therapy for epileptic seizure reduction.
The goal of the study was to look at how well the high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic and modified Atkins diets worked for people with refractory epilepsy (drug-resistant epilepsy). Both diets have been shown to be effective in children, but they have not been adequately investigated in adults.
Some individuals saw a 50% or higher reduction in seizure frequency. In all trials, 32% of ketogenic diet-treated patients and 29% of modified Atkins diet-treated patients saw a 50% or higher reduction in seizure frequency. In addition, 9 percent of ketogenic diet patients and 5% of modified Atkins diet patients saw a seizure reduction of more than 90%.
Epilepsy facts in a nutshell
Recurrent seizures are a symptom of epilepsy, which is a persistent neurological disease.
Epilepsy affects about 2.3 million people and 467,711 children aged 0 to 17 in the United States.
Epilepsy affects about 1 in every 26 persons at some time in their lives.
In the United States, around 150,000 new instances of epilepsy will be diagnosed each year.
With both diets, the beneficial effect on seizures came fast, from days to weeks. The benefits lasted for a long time, but unlike in children, they do not appear to remain once the diet is stopped.
Both diets had similar and no significant adverse effects.
“Unfortunately, because these diets are so restricted and complex, long-term utilization is low,” Klein says. Because of the gastronomic and social constraints, most people eventually abandon the diet.”
“However, these studies suggest that diets are somewhat to extremely beneficial as a supplement for patients with epilepsy,” he continues.
Retention was low in both the ketogenic diet and modified Atkins diet investigations, with 51 percent of ketogenic diet-treated patients and 42 percent of modified Atkins diet-treated patients abandoning the diet before the conclusion of the research. Even individuals who see a 75-100 percent reduction in seizure frequency eventually abandon the diet owing to gastronomic and social constraints.
The authors conclude that existing evidence does not support the use of the ketogenic diet and modified Atkins diet for the treatment of refractory epilepsy. They should only be utilized as the last option until further data becomes available.
Treatment with a ketogenic diet or a modified Atkins diet is moderately successful, although it has a surprising impact on certain people.
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