How do you explain epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a central nervous system (neurological) disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness. Anyone can develop epilepsy. Epilepsy affects both males and females of all races, ethnic backgrounds and ages.
How does epilepsy impact a person’s life?
People with epilepsy often experience changes in their quality of life such as less mobility, as well as the impact on learning, school attendance, employment, relationships, and social interactions.
How does epilepsy affect personality?
When epilepsy affects you for long periods, you may notice changes in your behavior, your feelings, and in how you see the world. Feelings of depression or anxiety are especially common. A few people with epilepsy experience psychosis (losing contact with reality).
Does epilepsy go away?
While many forms of epilepsy require lifelong treatment to control the seizures, for some people the seizures eventually go away. The odds of becoming seizure-free are not as good for adults or for children with severe epilepsy syndromes, but it is possible that seizures may decrease or even stop over time.
Can epilepsy be cured?
There’s no cure for epilepsy, but early treatment can make a big difference. Uncontrolled or prolonged seizures can lead to brain damage. Epilepsy also raises the risk of sudden unexplained death.
Is milk good for epilepsy?
Among different foods which may trigger the seizure occurrence, dairy products are major concerns because of excess use of a variety of them in dairy diet and several studies demonstrated cow’s milk protein allergy which may induce epilepsy [7].
Is epilepsy considered a disability?
Adults with epilepsy may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits. Because epilepsy isn’t necessarily disabling if it’s well-controlled, you will need to prove that your epilepsy interferes with your daily activities even though you’ve taken anticonvulsant medications as prescribed for at least three months.
What food triggers epilepsy?
Stimulants such as tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, sweets, soft drinks, excess salt, spices and animal proteins may trigger seizures by suddenly changing the body’s metabolism. Some parents have reported that allergic reactions to certain foods (e.g. white flour) also seem to trigger seizures in their children.
What triggers epilepsy seizures?
Triggers can differ from person to person, but common triggers include tiredness and lack of sleep, stress, alcohol, and not taking medication. For some people, if they know what triggers their seizures, they may be able to avoid these triggers and so lessen the chances of having a seizure.
What should you avoid if you have epilepsy?
Avoiding these triggers can help you avoid seizures and live better with epilepsy:
- Missing medication doses.
- Heavy alcohol use.
- Cocaine, ecstasy, or other illegal drugs.
- Lack of sleep.
- Other medicines that interfere with seizure medications.
Which food is not good for epilepsy?
white bread; non-wholegrain cereals; biscuits and cakes; honey; high-sugar drinks and foods; fruit juices; chips; mashed potatoes; parsnips; dates and watermelon. In general, processed or overcooked foods and over-ripe fruits.
Which exercise is best for epilepsy?
A study in Norway of women with uncontrolled epilepsy, showed that regular sessions of aerobic exercise (for example running, walking, swimming, cycling) for 60 minutes, twice a week, for 15 weeks, resulted in a significant reduction in the number of seizures they had.
What is the best vitamin for epilepsy?
Along with vitamin B6, magnesium, and vitamin E, which have been found to be helpful in treating epilepsy, doctors have found treatment with manganese and taurine reduced seizures, as well. Thiamine may help improve the ability to think in people with epilepsy.
Is Egg good for epilepsy?
Both diets have proved successful in children, yet they are studied in adults insufficiently. The modified Atkins diet and the ketogenic diet include high-fat foods such as bacon, eggs, mayonnaise, butter, hamburgers and heavy cream, with certain fruits, vegetables, nuts, avocados, cheeses and fish.
Is Turmeric Good for seizures?
Some research suggests that curcumin might have neuroprotective and antioxidant activity, which might be useful for treatment of seizures. Studies in several animal models have shown that curcumin can reduce seizures that have been induced chemically or electrically.
Can coffee cause a seizure?
Caffeine: This stimulant is found in a variety of foods and beverages, such as soda, tea, coffee, and chocolate. It can alter your brain’s electrical signals and cause a seizure.
Is coffee good for epilepsy?
Moderate doses of caffeine may benefit patients with epilepsy, whereas high doses – four cups of coffee per day or more – may increase seizure susceptibility, said Julie Bourgeois-Vionnet, MD, of the department of functional neurology and epileptology at Hospices Civils de Lyon in France.
What are the phases of a seizure?
In addition to these categorizations, there are four distinct phases of seizures: prodromal, early ictal (the “aura”), ictal, and post-ictal.
What are three main phases of a seizure?
Seizures take on many different forms and have a beginning (prodrome and aura), middle (ictal) and end (post-ictal) stage.
What are signs of a seizure coming on?
Seizure signs and symptoms may include: Temporary confusion—often described as a “fuzzy” feeling. A staring spell. Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs….Common warning signs of seizures include:
- Sensitivity to smells, sounds, or sights.
- Anxiety.
- Nausea.
- Dizziness.
- Visual changes, such as tunnel vision.
What’s the worst type of seizure?
A grand mal seizure causes a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions. It’s the type of seizure most people picture when they think about seizures. A grand mal seizure — also known as a generalized tonic-clonic seizure — is caused by abnormal electrical activity throughout the brain.
What happens during epilepsy attack?
During a seizure, there are bursts of electrical activity in your brain, sort of like an electrical storm. This activity causes different symptoms depending on the type of seizure and what part of the brain is involved. Seizures can take on many different forms and affect different people in different ways.
What are the 2 main types of epilepsy?
Seizures are generally described in two major groups: generalized seizures and focal seizures.
How long do epilepsy patients live?
Reduction in life expectancy can be up to 2 years for people with a diagnosis of idiopathic/cryptogenic epilepsy, and the reduction can be up to 10 years in people with symptomatic epilepsy. Reductions in life expectancy are highest at the time of diagnosis and diminish with time.