Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that is experienced by many people all over the world. It is a neurological disorder that presents with episodes of recurrent seizures and has a considerable effect on the lives of the patients. It is important to know epilepsy causes, signs, classifications and possible treatments in order to manage epilepsy well. In this blog, let us discuss different aspects of what epilepsy really is and if anyone is experiencing epilepsy symptoms, how to manage it with the best treatment available.
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a long-term neurological disorder that results in recurrent, unprovoked seizures. A seizure is an abrupt change in brain activity caused by a sudden electrical disturbance in the brain that may affect behaviour, movement, emotions, and awareness. The type and severity of seizures can also differ from one patient to another, depending on the cause of the seizures. Since this condition can be caused by certain activity inside the brain, epilepsy symptoms could be of various types.
What Causes Epilepsy?
It is important to know what causes epilepsy so that the condition can be well managed. The causes of epilepsy are diverse and can be divided into several categories:
Genetic Factors:
Epilepsy is one of those diseases that can be hereditary, and some people are born with the tendency to develop this illness from their parents. Some of the mutations may affect the manner in which the brain interprets signals, and this may cause seizures.
Head Injury:
Epilepsy may be caused by traumatic brain injuries that occur due to accidents, falls, or any other causes. The degree of the injury usually indicates the likelihood of developing the condition.
Infections:
Some illnesses that may lead to inflammation of the brain include meningitis or encephalitis, which may cause disturbance in electrical activity leading to epilepsy. Other infections, such as neurocysticercosis, which is a parasitic infection, also contribute to the condition.
Brain Conditions:
Epilepsy may be caused by tumours, strokes, or other conditions that interfere with standard electrical signals in the brain. These conditions are usually found in the elderly, and this makes them more vulnerable to epilepsy.
Developmental Disorders:
Some of these include autism or neurofibromatosis, which may cause brain development disorder and may lead to epilepsy. Having an understanding of epilepsy causes help in following the right treatment and management to be administered. At times, the cause is not known, and this is referred to as idiopathic epilepsy.
Epilepsy Symptoms
There are various epilepsy symptoms, which depend on the type of seizures that a person is having. These symptoms need to be identified early in order to start the epilepsy treatment.
Generalised Seizures:
These seizures occur in both hemispheres of the brain, and the epilepsy symptoms include:
- Tonic-clonic Seizures: Otherwise called grand mal seizures, these are characterised by a loss of consciousness, muscle rigidity and spasms.
- Absence Seizures: These are short seizures that are more frequent in children, resulting in a sudden cessation of activity and a vacant look.
Focal Seizures:
These are partial and may result in the following:
- Simple Focal Seizures: Involve a small part of the cerebral cortex and cause twitching, alteration of taste or smell, or vision without the loss of consciousness.
- Complex Focal Seizures: This may lead to confusion, stereotypy (repetitive movements), or even unawareness of the environment.
Secondary Generalised Seizures:
These begin as simple partial seizures and then evolve to affect both the left and the right cerebral hemispheres.
Other epilepsy symptoms are sudden mood swings, confusion, staring episodes, and even temporary unconsciousness. These are signs that must be identified as soon as possible so that the right epilepsy treatment is initiated.
Types of Epilepsy
Knowledge of the various forms of epilepsy assists in the development of treatment and management plans. Here are the main types of epilepsy:
- Idiopathic Epilepsy: No specific cause; sometimes associated with heredity.
- Symptomatic Epilepsy: Resulting from an underlying condition like a head injury, an infection or a developmental disorder.
- Cryptogenic Epilepsy: This is one of the types of epilepsy that is believed to be structural but the cause is hidden, and cannot be detected by present-day diagnostic methods.
Epilepsy Treatment
Epilepsy management is therefore aimed at preventing the occurrence of seizures and minimising the severity of the same. With the right treatment, the affected persons should be able to lead normal lives. Here are the primary epilepsy treatment options:
- Medication: The first line of treatment is the use of anticonvulsant/antiepileptic drugs. These drugs help control the electrical signals in the brain so as to minimise the occurrence of seizures.
- Surgery: In case medication fails to control the seizures, then surgery is often employed as a treatment.
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS): It is a small battery that is implanted under the skin, and through the vagus nerve, it sends signals to the brain to minimise seizures.
- Dietary Therapy: The ketogenic diet is a diet that contains high fats and very low carbohydrates, and its use has been proven to help in the reduction of seizures, especially among children.
- Lifestyle Changes: Epilepsy is mostly managed through lifestyle changes. Stress, sleep, seizure inducers and the patient’s adherence to the prescribed medications are other important factors in the management of epilepsy.
Conclusion
Epilepsy is a complex condition that has various facets. From understanding epilepsy causes to understanding epilepsy symptoms and the various therapies available, knowledge is strength when it comes to dealing with this condition. The major goal one should set (if facing epilepsy disorder) is to manage it with the best possible solution and undergoing a recommended treatment. Get an adequate amount of sleep, eat a healthy diet, limit alcohol intake, and take the medications as recommended by the healthcare provider.
