What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a disorder that affects the neurological or central nervous system of and causes abnormal brain activity leading to sudden seizures, unusual behavior, loss of sensation, etc. Epilepsy may strike any person. Mailes and Females of different races, ages, and cultural origins can develop epilepsy.

It could be challenging to identify a minor seizure. You could be awake during it, which might last a few seconds. Spasms and uncontrolled muscular twitches might result from more severe seizures. They may cause confusion or unconsciousness and last from a few seconds to many minutes. You might not remember having a seizure afterward.

Seizures are the main manifestations of epilepsy. There are two types of seizures:

General Seizure: This type of seizure affects your entire brain.

Focal Seizure: This type of seizure only affects a part of your brain.

What are the causes of Epilepsy?

The primary causative factors of epilepsy are:

Genetics: Some forms of epilepsy run in families and are classified by the sort of seizure you have or the area of the brain that is affected. There most likely is a genetic component in these circumstances.

Head Injury: Epilepsy may arise after head trauma from a vehicle accident or another traumatic event.

Brain Abnormalities: Epilepsy can be brought on by abnormalities in the brain, such as brain tumors or vascular anomalies, including arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and cavernous malformations. The primary cause of epilepsy in persons over 35 is stroke.

Prenatal Injury: Babies are vulnerable to brain injury before birth, which can be brought on by a number of things, including a mother's illness, inadequate nourishment, or oxygen deprivation. These factors can also cause seizures.

Developmental Disorder: Epilepsies can also be caused by developmental disorders like autism.

What are the symptoms of Epilepsy?

Seizures can disrupt any brain-coordinated process as epilepsy is brought on by aberrant brain activity. Some seizure warning signs and symptoms include:

The type of seizure determines the specific symptoms. The symptoms will be cosistent and stable from episode to episode since, in most situations, a person with epilepsy tends to experience the same sort of seizure every time.

What are the treatments for Epilepsy?

Surgery, diet therapy, and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are all options for treating epilepsy. Medication or drugs is the first line of treatment for virtually all people with multiple seizures. Some people may not require medication if they only experience one seizure and their testing does not show a significant chance of seizure recurrence. Instead of treating the underlying problem, the drugs address the signs and symptoms of epilepsy. Some people with particular types of epilepsy could benefit from diet treatment. The modified Atkins diet and the ketogenic diet are the two diets that are used most frequently.