Epilepsy can be cured, is a disorder of the central nervous system (neurology) in which the brain starts to work in a strange way. This can lead to seizures or periods of strange behavior, feelings, and sometimes loss of awareness.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Anyone can develop epilepsy. Epilepsy can happen to both men and women of any race, culture, or age.
Symptoms of seizures can be very different. During a seizure, some people with epilepsy just stare blankly for a few seconds. Others twitch their arms or legs over and over again. Even if you have one seizure, that does not mean you have epilepsy. Epilepsy is usually diagnosed when a person has at least two seizures that don’t have a known cause and happen at least 24 hours apart. Epilepsy can be cured
Most people with epilepsy can get their seizures under control with medicine or, in some cases, surgery. Some people have to take medicine for the rest of their lives to stop having seizures, but for others, the seizures go away on their own. Some kids with epilepsy may grow out of it as they get older.
Symptoms
Because seizures are caused by abnormal brain activity, which is what epilepsy is, they can affect any process that your brain is in charge of. Some signs and symptoms of seizures are:
- Confusion for a while
- A staring spell
- Tense muscles
- Arms and legs that move in jerky, uncontrollable ways
- Loss of mind or consciousness
- Psychological signs like fear, anxiety, or a sense of déjà vu
Symptoms depend on what kind of seizure it is. Most of the time, a person with epilepsy will have the same kind of seizure each time. This means that the symptoms will be the same each time.
The way and where the abnormal brain activity starts usually tells doctors whether a seizure is focal or generalized. Epilepsy can be cured
Focal seizures.
Focal seizures are ones that seem to be caused by abnormal activity in just one part of your brain. There are two different kinds of seizures:
Focal seizures that don’t make people lose consciousness.
These seizures used to be called “simple partial seizures,” but they don’t make you lose consciousness. They can change how you feel or how something looks, smells, feels, tastes, or sounds. Some people experience deja vu. This type of seizure can also cause one body part, like an arm or leg, to move uncontrollably. It can also cause sudden sensory symptoms, like tingling, dizziness, and flashing lights. Epilepsy can be cured
Focal seizures that make it hard to pay attention.
These seizures, which used to be called “complex partial seizures,” cause a change in or loss of consciousness or awareness. This kind of seizure might feel like you’re dreaming. During a focal seizure that makes you less aware of your surroundings, you might stare into space and not react normally to your surroundings. You might also do things over and over again, like rubbing your hands, chewing, swallowing, or walking in circles.
People may mistake the signs of focal seizures for those of other neurological conditions, like migraines, narcolepsy, or mental illness. To tell epilepsy apart from other disorders, you need a thorough exam and tests.
Generalized seizures.
Generalized seizures are ones that seem to affect every part of the brain. There are six different kinds of generalized seizures.
Absence seizures.
Absence seizures, which used to be called “petit mal” seizures, usually happen in kids. They involve staring into space with or without small movements like blinking the eyes or smacking the lips. They only last between 5 and 10 seconds. These seizures can happen in groups, up to 100 times a day, and make the person lose consciousness for a short time.
Tonic seizures.
Tonic seizures make muscles stiff and can make it hard to stay awake. Most of the time, these seizures affect your back, arms, and legs, and you may fall to the ground.
Atonic seizures.
Atonic seizures, also called drop seizures, cause people to lose control of their muscles. Since this usually affects the legs, you may suddenly fall down or collapse.
Clonic seizures.
Muscle jerking that happens over and over or in a pattern is a sign of a clonic seizure. Most of the time, these seizures affect the neck, face, and arms.
Myoclonic seizures.
Myoclonic seizures usually look like sudden, short jerks or twitches and usually affect the arms, legs, and upper body.
Tonic-clonic seizures.
Tonic-clonic seizures, which used to be called grand mal seizures, are the most severe type of epileptic seizure. They can make you lose consciousness quickly and make your body stiffen, twitch, and shake. They can sometimes make you urinate a lot or bite your tongue. Epilepsy can be cured
When to go to the doctor
Get medical help right away if any of the following happen: Epilepsy can be cured
- It goes on for more than five minutes.
- After the seizure ends, the person doesn’t start breathing again or become aware again.
- Right away, there is a second seizure.
- Your fever is very high.
- You’re pregnant.
- You have diabetes.
- During the seizure, you hurt yourself.
Even though you’ve been taking medicine to stop seizures, you’re still having them.
If you have a seizure for the first time, you should see a doctor.
Causes
About half of the people who have epilepsy don’t know what caused it. In the other half, the condition could be caused by a number of things, such as:
Genes have an effect.
Epilepsy can be inherited. Seizures and brain regions determine these types. In these situations, it’s likely that genes play a role.
Some types of epilepsy have been linked to certain genes, but for most people, genes are just one part of what causes epilepsy. Some genes might make a person more sensitive to things in the environment that can cause seizures.
Head trauma.
Epilepsy can be caused by a bump on the head from a car accident or another serious injury.
Problems with the brain.
Brain tumors, AVMs, and cavernous malformations can cause epilepsy. Stroke causes most adult epilepsy over 35.
Infections.
Epilepsy can be caused by things like meningitis, HIV, viral encephalitis, and some parasitic infections.
Prenatal injury.
Brain damage can occur before birth due to mother infection, lack of food, or oxygen. This damage to the brain can cause seizures or cerebral palsy.
Developmental disorders.
Epilepsy is sometimes linked to disorders of development, like autism.
Danger signs:
Some things can make you more likely to have seizures:
Age.
Epilepsy usually starts in children and older adults, but it can happen to anyone at any age.
About the family.
If someone in your family has epilepsy, you may be more likely to get a seizure disorder yourself.
Head wounds.
Some cases of epilepsy are caused by injuries to the head. Wearing a seat belt in a car and a helmet while biking, skiing, riding a motorcycle, or doing other activities with a high risk of head injury can lower your risk.
Stroke and other diseases of the blood vessels.
Stroke and other diseases of the blood vessels can cause damage to the brain that can lead to seizures. To lower your risk of getting these diseases, you can do things like drink less alcohol and stay away from cigarettes, eat a healthy diet, and work out regularly.
Dementia.
Epilepsy is more likely to happen in older adults who have dementia.
The brain got sick.
Meningitis, an infection that can cause swelling in your brain or spinal cord, can make your risk higher.
Seizures in childhood.
Seizures can sometimes happen when a child has a high fever. Most children who have seizures because they have a high fever won’t get epilepsy. If a child has a long seizure caused by a fever, another condition of the nervous system, or a history of epilepsy in their family, their risk of getting epilepsy goes up.
Complications:
When you have a seizure at the wrong time, it could put you or other people in danger.
Falling.
During a seizure, if you fall, you could hurt your head or break a bone.
Drowning.
If you have epilepsy, you could have a seizure while swimming or bathing, which makes you 13–19 times more likely to drown than the rest of the population.
Car accidents.
If you have a seizure that makes you lose consciousness or control, it can be dangerous to drive a car or use other machinery.
Many states have rules about getting a driver’s license based on a person’s ability to control seizures. For example, a person must be seizure-free for a certain amount of time before they can drive, which can be anywhere from months to years.
Problems during pregnancy.
When a woman is pregnant and has seizures, both she and the baby are at risk, and some anti-seizure drugs can make birth defects more likely. If you have epilepsy and want to get pregnant, you should talk to your doctor about your plans.
Most women who have epilepsy can get pregnant and have babies who are healthy. Pregnancy requires close monitoring and medication changes. It’s very important to plan your pregnancy with your doctor.
Problems with emotional health.
People with epilepsy are more likely to have mental health problems, especially depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts and actions. Even well-controlled epilepsies can cause issues.
Epilepsy sometimes causes rare but life-threatening problems, such as: Epilepsy can be cured
Status epilepticus.
This condition happens when you have a seizure that doesn’t stop for more than five minutes or if you have a lot of seizures that don’t let you fully wake up between them. People with status epilepticus are more likely to die or have brain damage that won’t go away.
Epilepsy can cause sudden, unexpected death (SUDEP).
People who have epilepsy also have a small chance of dying suddenly and without warning. Research suggests heart or lung issues may cause it.
SUDEP may kill people with frequent tonic-clonic seizures or uncontrolled seizures.
In general, SUDEP kills about 1% of people with epilepsy. People with severe epilepsy that doesn’t respond to treatment are most likely to have it. Epilepsy can be cured
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