MEDICAL NEWS
Epilepsy is a broad term that encompasses a variety of brain disorders that cause seizures. It is one of the most common brain conditions and can affect people of any age.
Signs & symptoms
The primary symptom of epilepsy is seizures. A seizure is a brief change in brain activity. It can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.
Someone may be diagnosed with epilepsy if they have two or more seizures unrelated to another cause, such as a fever or low blood sugar.
Seizures can look different in different people. Signs may include:
* Confusion
* Staring
* Rapid blinking
* Twitching or shaking
* Falling to the ground
* Loss of consciousness
* Body stiffening
Causes
While the cause of epilepsy is unknown for many people, certain conditions impact the brain and may lead to the development of epilepsy:
* Brain tumor
* Traumatic brain injury
* Infection in the brain from a virus, bacteria, or parasite
* Stroke
* Oxygen deprivation of the brain
* Certain genetic disorders
* Certain neurological diseases
Treatment
If left untreated, recurring seizures impact quality of life, increase the risk of injury, and may shorten life expectancy.
Common treatments include:
* Medicine: Anti-seizure medication works by controlling improper brain signals.
* Surgery: This can remove the affected area if seizure activity occurs in only one part of the brain.
* Diet: A specialized ketogenic diet may be effective for some types of epilepsy, especially in children.
* Nerve stimulation: An implanted device stimulates the vagus nerve to reduce seizures.
Self-care
Successful epilepsy treatment takes the combined efforts of healthcare professionals and the person with epilepsy. Many self-care practices aid in reducing seizure triggers and keeping the body healthy:
* Take all medications as prescribed.
* Keep a record of seizures and any potential triggers.
* Get plenty of sleep every night.
* Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet.
* Get regular physical activity and movement.
© American Institute for Preventive Medicine