Understanding epilepsy: Why it’s more than just seizures
Published On : 2024-11-17T19:54:55+0530 [ IST ] |
Author : Mayur_Tembhare
Reading Time : 3 mins
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What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is the name of the medical condition where a patient gets recurrent seizures. Seizures are also more commonly referred to as “fits” or “convulsions”. The normal brain has millions of neurons that generate electricity. This electrical currents travel in a controlled and
When these brain currents become excessive and disorganised for a few minutes the person behaves abnormally for the brief period and this constitutes an epileptic fit.
When seizures occur repeatedly without immediate triggers suggesting a low threshold for recurrent seizures that constitutes epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a common neurological condition that affects 1 in every 200 people in the community. People with epilepsy have seizures or “fits”.
Are there different types of fits?
The normal brain continuously has electrical currents in a controlled manner. Fits or seizures occur because of brief excessive currents in the brain. The symptoms of a seizure vary depending on the part of the brain that has abnormal current.
Generalized (Grand mal) seizures:
In this type of seizure the person falls to the ground and becomes stiff and then shakes all over. There may be frothing at the mouth... the person may lose urine and also bite his tongue. These are commonly called convulsions.
Focal Seizures
These are seizures due to an abnormal current in only a portion of the brain the symptoms may vary with the location of the current.
Focal Aware Seizure:
The person is fully aware and has an unusual sensation or jerking of his limbs and recollects this event later.
Focal Unaware Seizure:
The person is not fully in his/her senses and has some irrelevant automatic behaviour like thrashing limbs or chewing or picking movements, looking blank and unresponsive. The person cannot recollect this event later. This is called a Focal unaware seizure
Is epilepsy a disease?
Medications are the mainstay of epilepsy treatmentand modern medicines are quite safe with minimal side effects. Over 70% of the people with epilepsy have a good control of their seizures with medications. At present there are over 15 different types of medications available for the treatment
What precautions should a person with epilepsy take?
Seek the right medical help from the expert doctor
Regularity with medications is of utmost priority even when there are no fits.
Sleep and meal times must be regular. Lack of sleep is known to cause seizures.
Avoid driving motorized vehicles swimming, cooking on open fires or working with heavy machinery if the epilepsy is active.
A lot of factors predispose one to epilepsy. It is known to run in families onset may follow head seizures high fever hypoglycemia or even trauma to the brain but in several instances no such risk factor can be pinpointed and the individual has seizures spontaneously.
Impact on Physical and Mental Health
The impact of epilepsy goes beyond the corporeal seizure for most people though for some the seizure itself is followed by physical incapacitation. For instance when the epilepsy is secondary to brain injury from a birth related complication (perinatal injury) or head injury due to a road traffic accident or a brain stroke the individual could have additional disability due
The mental and emotional effects of epilepsy can also be a challenge. Patients with epilepsy may face stigmatisation, bullying or social isolation due to societal stigma that stems from poor knowledge and understanding of the problem. Overprotection and restriction of daily activities like attending school, traveling or mixing with friends can impact confidence and self-worth which in turn may lead to anxiety and
The best way to overcome this is to spread the right information about the nature of epilepsy and the fact that it can be treated well with medicines or surgery. Awareness programs through public fora, communication via radio, TV and social media focussed talks go a big way to dispel myths.
(Author: Dr. Jayanti Mani Consultant, Neurology, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital Mumbai)
Source : Reporters From Sunrise Chronicles
Tags : Fits , Grand , Accordingly , Overprotection , epilepsyirrelevant automatic behaviour like thrashing limbs , People , Jayanti Mani , Are , For , There ,
Summary :
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is the name of the medical condition where a patient gets recurrent seizures. Seizures are also more commonly referred to as “fits” or “convulsions”. The normal bra
