A neurological disorder like epilepsy usually develops in childhood or in individuals that are above 60 years of age. Children might outgrow this disorder as they reach adulthood. In some, the condition may be chronic. That remain for a lifetime, and they have to seek life-long treatment to manage their seizures.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is quite common, and it happens regardless of gender, ethnic background, race, or age. It can be diagnosed with the help of medical tests. Which aid in the identification of the true cause of seizures. Sometimes the exact cause of epilepsy might not be identified.
Symptoms Of Epilepsy
The symptoms of epilepsy might differ among individuals. Some may find experience uncontrollable jerking movements of their arms and legs. While others might just blank out and stare into space. In some, seizures might cause loss of awareness and they may even fall unconscious.
But this condition can be managed well with treatments. Anti-epileptic medications can serve as an excellent remedy against seizures. In some individuals, the condition can be managed by performing surgery, wherein a part of the brain that is causing seizures is treated surgically or removed.
How Does Epilepsy Happen?
Epilepsy occurs when the individual experiences repeated seizure attacks happening due to some abnormal spike of electrical signals taking place in the brain. A particular spot in your brain might get affected due to the damage of cells in that area. The damaged cells lead to a sudden rise in electrical activity. Which impacts the individual’s emotions, behavior, awareness, ability to control their movements, and sensations throughout the body due to seizures.
Causes Of Epilepsy
Traumatic brain injury
A brain injury can occur as a result of a sudden blow to the head. Which usually happens during accidents. Injury can cause damage to a part of the brain. Which might lead to bleeding and clot formation.
Viral infections
Some viral infections can affect your brain function. Viruses or bacteria can cause damage to your central nervous system (CNS), and lead to seizure disorder.
Diseases
Your immune system is responsible for protecting and safeguarding your body against diseases. But individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS, or meningitis, have a weak immune system. Which increases their possibility of getting epilepsy.
Brain tumor
A tumor in the brain can affect brain function and increases the chances of epileptic disorder. Epilepsy is quite common among individuals suffering from brain tumors.
Genetics
An infant born in a family of individuals having epilepsy running in their family line is more likely to get affected by this disorder. Which can happen in their childhood or at any point in their lives.
Neurological disorders
Such disorders result mainly because of a nervous system malfunction. That leads to seizures. Disorders like Alzheimer’s, spinal cord injury, Bell’s palsy, Parkinson’s, dementia, etc. can increase the risk of epilepsy.
Symptoms Of Epilepsy
An individual with an epileptic disorder may show the signs of seizures in the following ways:
- Confusion or sudden loss of awareness
- Stiffness in muscles
- Difficulty concentrating and performing any task
- Uncontrollable jerking movements of the body, especially arms and legs
- Psychological disorders like stress, anxiety, fear
- Staring spells
Diagnosis
Moreover, You will be subjected to some tests that will help in determining the exact cause of your seizures. In case you have a habit of drinking (alcohol) or some drug addiction. But you suddenly stop the habit, then seizures can potentially be a side effect of it. The tests will be done to see whether the seizures are arising due to such addiction problems. Or it is because of above listed causes.
Based on the test results, the treatment will be followed. Your healthcare provider will prescribe anti-epileptic medications. Or if the disorder can be treated with the help of surgery, then they may suggest you get it done. The tests, for scanning your brain and ruling out the treatments, may include blood tests, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for brain scans, Electroencephalogram (ECG), computerized tomography (CT) scan, positron emission tomography (PET), and single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT).
Doctor Suggestion
The doctor may even suggest some therapies to stimulate your brain, which can be done with the help of a device. The therapy involves the application of focused magnetic fields to areas of the brain which gives rise to seizures. Moreover, they might even put you on a ketogenic diet. Which comprises a diet that is high in fats and low in carbs. Such a diet can help in managing epilepsy disorder efficiently.
When Is The Right Time To See The Doctor?
One should seek medical attention immediately when one experiences some symptoms such as:
- Persistent seizures lasting for more than five minutes
- You are experiencing a high fever
- Having repeated seizures
- Difficulty breathing after a seizure
- Loss of consciousness after the seizure
- You are pregnant
- Had an accidental injury due to a seizure
- Have diabetes
In conclusion
Epilepsy might start at a young age, or it might emerge at later ages, like around the 60s. Its causes may differ among individuals. It can be managed with anti-epileptic medicines, or you might even get surgery to treat the area of the brain that is contributing to seizures.