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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
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Google
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Yahoo!
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