Topic > What is epilepsy? - 986

What is epilepsy? Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the brain, causing seizures. An epileptic seizure is a severe disruption of electrical communication between neurons, leading to the temporary release of excessive energy in a synchronized form. Epilepsy is very unpredictable. Having a seizure disorder doesn't mean you can only have one type of seizure. People can have many different types of seizures; may vary from person to person. In some cases, depending on the type of crisis someone may be having, it is possible to resolve them. (“Epilepsy Foundation.” What is epilepsy? Np, nd Web. May 9, 2014.) There are many different types of seizures. Each seizure type may have different symptoms or signs that indicate the patient may be having a seizure. Some symptoms can range from loss of consciousness to nausea to vomiting. Some of the causes of seizures are lack of oxygen, brain infections, high fever, sleep deprivation, etc. Diagnosing Epilepsy Diagnosing epilepsy can be a long process with many steps. follow. Confirmation of the parents' medical history will be needed during the process, then a complete neurological examination will be carried out followed by blood and clinical tests, to ensure that it is not another type of episode such as fainting. In addition to the neurological examination, EEG is the best tool for diagnosing seizures and epilepsy. Then your doctor will identify the type of seizures and perform a clinical evaluation to determine the cause of the epilepsy. Now, depending on the results, it will determine the best type of treatment. Partial Seizures When someone has a partial seizure, they are conscious during the entire seizure. They know their surroundings and remember everything that ... middle of paper ... is other than drugs. If the medication doesn't work, your doctor may suggest the ketogenic diet. The diet will consist of foods high in fat and low in carbohydrates and proteins. How the diet works is still unclear, although the ketone the diet helps produce is said to have similar antiepileptic effects. Some other approaches could be behavioral therapy such as desensitization, relaxation therapy, biofeedback, positive reinforcement, or cognitive therapy. The last resort would be surgery. The operations usually involve removing the point from which the seizures originate. Studies have shown that 9 out of 10 people will have a seizure in their lifetime. Every person is different, not all cases are the same. There is no known cure for this disability. There are studies going on today that are trying to learn more about epilepsy.