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Living With Epilepsy
What Are the Causes?
What Causes Epilepsy?
Let’s discuss potential causes further.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder often referred to as seizure disorder.
Seizures occur when there is a sudden charge of electricity as a result of the
breakdown of factors that control electrical activity in the brain. The linkages
of electrical activity inside the brain result in a seizure. The seizures can
cause abnormal jerking movements, confusion, staring spell, muscle spasms and
loss of consciousness.
Having at least two of such seizures could be diagnosed as epilepsy.
What causes seizures? What causes the breakdown of the electrical activity
threshold in the brain?
In order to understand the root causes of seizure, it is imperative to
understand how the brain functions. The brain is composed of millions of tiny
particles called neurones. Each neurone is in an electrically charged state.
When a minute quantity of a special neurotransmitter substance is released from
the terminals of one neurone, electrical signals pass on to the next neurone,
thus transmitting the signal or message. In epilepsy, some unstable neurones
discharge electrical signals abnormally. These abnormal electrical discharges
may be caused by a genetic defect and/or metabolic abnormalities.
There are different reasons why epilepsy begins in different people of different
ages. Often, doctors are not capable of determining the exact cause of epilepsy
in an individual. However, there are certain conditions that lead to epilepsy.
Having one or more of these conditions will likely cause the disorder.
Brain injuries such as head trauma, meningitis, encephalitis, stroke,
hemorrhage, deprivation of oxygen at birth and accidents can cause epilepsy.
Head injuries are also common causes. In fact, severe head injuries are the most
common causes of epilepsy among young adults. Brain tumor, fortunately, rarely
causes epilepsy. On the other hand, strokes and tumors are the most likely
causes of epilepsy among adults. People aged 65 years and above who suffer from
stroke and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimers’ are likely candidates for
epilepsy.
Alcohol and drug abuse can also lead to epilepsy. The withdrawal of
barbiturates, sedatives and other substances can cause seizures, especially if
these substances were abused for a long period of time. In addition, metabolic
abnormalities such as low blood sugar and malfunctioning liver and kidneys can
also lead to generalized seizures because these abnormalities disturb the normal
operations of neurones.
On the other hand, seizures with known clear causes are called secondary or
symptomatic epilepsy.
Thus, when someone experienced a seizure, it does not necessarily mean that he
or she has epilepsy. Life-threatening situations such as fever or high
temperature and dehydration can also cause seizures. These seizure attacks,
however, may not necessarily be the symptoms of epilepsy.
Seizures often do not begin immediately after the brain injury. Other cases
could even take months before the seizures begin. This observation however,
remains unexplained up to this point in time.
People with epilepsy undergo certain types of treatments. However, bear in mind
that the treatment of epilepsy is not about relieving pain or extending the life
of the person afflicted with the disorder. People must understand that people
with epilepsy are treated so they can live unrestricted normal lives. As the
motto for the epilepsy treatment goes, “no seizures, no side effects”.
If diagnosed with epilepsy, neurologists can prescribe a variety of treatments
in order to control the seizures. Treatment types could either be medication or
the intake of pills, a special diet such as the ketogenic diet or even brain
surgery. In rare cases, doctors can implant a nerve stimulator device called
vagus. The vagus can send signals through the vagus nerve located in the neck to
control seizures.
Once aware of the disorder certain factors must be avoided so as not to trigger
seizures. These triggers include lack of sleep, extreme stress, over
stimulation, fever, certain medicines, hyperventilation and flashing bright
lights.
The development in the study of epilepsy in the medical world paints a bright
future not only for people with epilepsy but also for their families and
friends. With the speedy progress in modern science, the exact cause of epilepsy
can soon be pinpointed and eventually effective and convenient treatments will
be developed. At this point however, knowledge, understanding and a support
system are the best medications that people with epilepsy can rely on.
>>> Table of Contents
Epilepsy News:
MSN
Live Search: epilepsy site:msnbc.msn.com
Search results
FDA probes suicide link to epilepsy drugs - Mental health- msnbc.com
The Food and Drug Administration has begun a preliminary inquiry into whether epilepsy drugs might increase the risk of suicidal behavior in some patients.
Push to prevent epilepsy after brain injury - More health news- msnbc ...
Survivors of traumatic brain injuries ? from car-crash victims to soldiers wounded in Iraq ? face an extra hurdle as they recover: Thousands of them will develop epilepsy ...
Epilepsy patients advised to try newer treatments - More health news ...
The number of drugs approved to treat epilepsy has doubled in the past decade, offering long-needed alternatives to some patients. But too few doctors know how to best use the new ...
Epilepsy drug shown to reverse obesity in rats - Diet and nutrition ...
An epilepsy drug being tested for use in treating addiction can help obese rats shed weight, government researchers said on Wednesday.
FDA strengthens epilepsy drug warnings - Health care- msnbc.com
The FDA Wednesday strengthened warnings on certain drugs used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder and nerve pain.
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Google
epilepsy - Google News
epilepsy - Google News
Cyberonics Reports Strong Sales Growth and Profitability in Fiscal ... - Mark...
International Business Times
Cyberonics Reports Strong Sales Growth and Profitability in Fiscal ...
MarketWatch - Nov 19, 2008
Net sales of $36.0 million, a 24% increase from $28.9 million, -- Net US product sales attributable to the epilepsy indication increased by an estimated 32% ...
Cyberonics Swings To Q2 Profit On Top Line Growth; Lifts FY09 ... RTT News
all 476 news articles
November Is National Epilepsy Awareness Month - Kansas City infoZine
November Is National Epilepsy Awareness Month
Kansas City infoZine, MO - 12 hours ago
Jefferson City, MO - infoZine - Missourians made more visits to emergency room hospitals for epilepsy in 2006 compared to 2000, and educating people about ...
U.Va.'s Dr. Jaideep Kapur Named Vice President of American ... - University o...
U.Va.'s Dr. Jaideep Kapur Named Vice President of American ...
University of Virginia, VA - 17 hours ago
Internationally recognized for his research in epilepsy, Kapur's laboratory is concerned with understanding the mechanisms underlying status epilepticus, ...
Gene Associated With Epilepsy Discovered - Science Daily (press release)
Gene Associated With Epilepsy Discovered
Science Daily (press release) - Nov 18, 2008
18, 2008) ? A University of Iowa-led international research team has found a new gene associated with the brain disorder epilepsy. While the PRICKLE1 gene ...
MSU physician works to help epilepsy victims in Africa - Media Newswire (pres...
MSU physician works to help epilepsy victims in Africa
Media Newswire (press release), NY - 9 hours ago
EAST LANSING, Mich. th Michigan State University physician Gretchen Birbeck has witnessed firsthand the effects epilepsy can have on people living in ...
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Yahoo!
Yahoo! News Search Results for epilepsy
Yahoo! News Search Results for epilepsy
Removing Part Of Brain Controls Girl's Epilepsy (Science Daily)
Surgeons told Jessica Nelson one of the scariest things she will ever hear as a parent: they wanted to treat her daughter's epilepsy by cutting out or disconnecting half of her brain. Then something extraordinary happened: it worked.
Foundation works to dispel epilepsy myths (Berwyn Life)
November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month, but the staff of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago makes it their job to open the minds of west suburban residents to the condition year-round.
International Team Finds Gene Associated With Epilepsy (Medical News Today)
A University of Iowa-led international research team has found a new gene associated with the brain disorder epilepsy. While the PRICKLE1 gene mutation was specific to a rare form of epilepsy, the study results could help lead to new ideas for overall epilepsy treatment. The findings, which involved nearly two dozen institutions from six different countries, appear in the Nov.
Epilepsy Foundation (KAMR Amarillo)
A local non-profit association has now become a national chapter. The High Plains Epilepsy Association has been in West Texas for over 30 years. They serve 79 counties in the panhandle. And today they are being named the newest chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation of America.
Discovery of new gene linked to epilepsy (News-Medical-Net)
A University of Iowa-led international research team has found a new gene associated with the brain disorder epilepsy.
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