Epilepsy

Approximately half of those suffering from epilepsy have no known etiology. In the other half, the disease might be attributed to a variety of circumstances, including:

• Genetics. Certain kinds of epilepsy run in families. In these cases, there is likely a hereditary component. Researchers have connected certain forms of epilepsy to certain genes. However, some persons have genetic epilepsy that is not inherited. A kid might experience genetic alterations that are not handed down from their parents.
• Most people's epilepsy is caused by more than just their genes. Certain genes may increase a person's sensitivity to environmental circumstances that cause seizures.
• Head trauma. Epilepsy can be caused by head trauma from a vehicle accident or another type of traumatic damage.
• Brain-related factors. Epilepsy may be caused by brain tumors. Epilepsy can also be caused by how blood vessels grow in the brain. Seizures are possible in people with blood vessel disorders such as arteriovenous and cavernous malformations. In people over the age of 35, stroke is the major cause of epilepsy.
• Infections. Meningitis, HIV, viral encephalitis, and some parasite illnesses can all induce epilepsy.
• Injury occurs before birth. Before birth, newborns are vulnerable to brain injury caused by a variety of circumstances. They might include a maternal illness, inadequate nutrition, or a lack of oxygen. This brain injury can cause epilepsy or cerebral palsy.
• Developmental conditions. Epilepsy is occasionally associated with developmental problems. People with autism are more prone to develop epilepsy than those without autism. According to research, persons with epilepsy are more likely to have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other developmental disorders. Having both illnesses might be linked to genes.

Seizure triggers
Seizures can be triggered by things in the environment. Seizure triggers don't cause epilepsy, but they may trigger seizures in people who have epilepsy. Most people with epilepsy don't have reliable triggers that always cause a seizure. However, they often can identify factors that make it easier to have a seizure. Possible seizure triggers include:

• Alcohol.
• Flashing lights.
• Illicit drug use.
• Skipping doses of antiseizure medicines or taking more than prescribed.
• Lack of sleep.
• Hormone changes during the menstrual cycle.
• Stress.
• Dehydration.
• Skipped meals.
• Illness.

Seizure symptoms differ according on the type of seizure. Because epilepsy is characterized by excessive brain activity, seizures can disrupt any brain function.

Seizure symptoms can include:

• Temporary perplexity.
• Freezing up
• Muscle stiffness, or tension
• Uncontrolled, jerky movements of the arms and legs.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Psychological symptoms such as fear, anxiety, or déjà vu.
• People with epilepsy may have behavioral abnormalities and, in rare occasions, psychotic symptoms.

Most persons with epilepsy experience the same type of seizure every time. Symptoms are generally consistent from episode to episode.

Warning signs of seizures

Some people with focal seizures have warning symptoms just before the seizure occurs. These warning indications are referred to as auras.

Specific stomach symptoms, fearful emotions, and déjà vu are all potential warning indicators. The aura may also be gustatory, olfactory, or visual (constant or flashing lights, colorful lights, etc.). Some people may experience dizziness and lose their equilibrium.

Epileptic seizures are defined as focal or generalized based on how and where the brain activity that produces the seizure begins.

Seizures caused by activity in only one section of the brain are known as focal seizures. Such seizures are classified into two types:

• There are focal seizures that do not cause loss of consciousness. They have the ability to influence emotions as well as the appearance, smell, feel, taste, and sound of objects. Some people have déjà vu. This sort of seizure may also cause involuntary twitching of a bodily part, such as an arm or leg. They can also induce sensory symptoms including tingling, disorientation, or flashing lights in front of your eyes.
• Focal seizures with reduced consciousness. These seizures are accompanied by a shift or loss of consciousness. During a focal seizure with reduced consciousness, people may stare blankly and fail to respond to their environment as usual. They may also engage in repeated behaviors such as rubbing their hands, eating, swallowing, or walking in circles.

Other neurological diseases, such as migraines, narcolepsy, or mental illness, can cause symptoms similar to focal seizures. A comprehensive examination and tests are required to determine whether the symptoms are caused by epilepsy or another condition.

Generalized seizures

Seizures that appear to involve all areas of the brain are called generalized seizures. Generalized seizures include:

• Absence seizures. Absence seizures, previously known as petit mal seizures, typically occur in children. Symptoms include staring into space with or without subtle body movements. Movements may include eye blinking or lip smacking and only last 5 to 10 seconds. These seizures may occur in clusters, happening as often as 100 times a day, and cause a brief loss of awareness.
• Tonic seizures. Tonic seizures cause stiff muscles and may affect consciousness. These seizures usually affect muscles in the back, arms and legs and may cause the person to fall to the ground.
• Atonic seizures. Atonic seizures, also known as drop seizures, cause a loss of muscle control. Since this most often affects the legs, it often causes sudden falls to the ground.
• Clonic seizures. Clonic seizures are associated with repeated or rhythmic jerking muscle movements. These seizures usually affect the neck, face and arms.
• Myoclonic seizures. Myoclonic seizures usually appear as sudden brief jerks or twitches and usually affect the upper body, arms and legs.
• Tonic-clonic seizures. Tonic-clonic seizures, previously known as grand mal seizures, are the most dramatic type of epileptic seizure. They can cause a sudden loss of consciousness and body stiffening, twitching and shaking.

Treatment can help patients with epilepsy experience fewer seizures or perhaps prevent them entirely. Possible treatments include

• Medications
• Surgery
• Device-based brain stimulation therapies
• Ketogenic Diet

Medications

Most patients with epilepsy can control their seizures by using one or more anticonvulsant medications, often known as antiepileptic drugs.

Many children with epilepsy who do not exhibit any symptoms can eventually discontinue their drugs and have seizure-free lives. Many adults can discontinue their drugs after two or more years of seizure-free living. Your doctor can tell you when you should stop taking your prescription.

Finding the appropriate drug and dosage might be tricky. Your condition, seizure frequency, age, and other considerations will be taken into consideration.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery is typically undertaken when:

• Seizures begin in a limited, clearly defined area of the brain.
• Surgery will not affect key functions like speech, language, mobility, vision, or hearing.
• Minimally invasive therapies to epilepsy, such as MRI-guided stereotactic laser ablation, can alleviate symptoms. These procedures may be performed when open surgery is considered too dangerous. This method uses a thermal laser probe to target the part of the brain that is generating the seizures.

Hardware-based treatment:

In addition to drugs and surgery, these prospective remedies offer an alternate way to treat epilepsy:

• Vagus nerve stimulation. When drugs fail to control seizures and surgery is not an option, vagus nerve stimulation may be considered. A vagus nerve stimulator, like a pacemaker, is implanted under the skin of the chest. The cables from the stimulator connect to the vagus nerve in the neck. It is unclear how this prevents seizures, but the gadget often reduces the number by 20-40%.
• Deep Brain Stimulation. Deep brain stimulation involves implanting electrodes in a specific area of the brain, generally the thalamus. The electrodes connect to a generator implanted in the chest. The generator provides electrical impulses to the brain at regular intervals, which can lower the frequency of seizures. Deep brain stimulation is frequently utilized for patients whose seizures are not controlled by medicines.
• Transcranial electrical stimulation. This therapy involves applying electrical stimulation to certain parts of the brain in order to stop seizures. Studies have shown that this therapy has few side effects, can give long-term seizure relief, and is non-invasive.
• NEUROFEEDBACK is a therapeutic hardware method based on controlled "training" of brain neurons in response to external visual or audio stimuli.

Ketogenic Diet

A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet can help some children and adults with epilepsy have fewer seizures. This may be a possibility if drugs fail to control epilepsy.

The ketogenic diet causes the body to break down fats rather than carbs for energy. After a few years, some children can discontinue the ketogenic diet while remaining seizure-free. This must occur under the direct supervision of medical personnel.

If you or your child are thinking about starting a ketogenic diet, talk to your doctor. It is critical to ensure that your child receives adequate nutrition while on the diet.