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All about causes, diagnosis, and epilepsy treatment

Introduction

Epilepsy is a chronic brain-related disorder that triggers seizures, fits, and sometimes unconsciousness. It is known to be one of the most ordinary and general diseases of the nervous system and is usually not life-threatening. Epilepsy can affect people from all age groups, races, and sex. Any kind of disturbance and abnormal activity in the nerve cells of the brain instigates a seizure.

Seizures such as high fever or a brain concussion do not count as epilepsy symptoms. On the other hand, if a person is experiencing two or more such events without any provocation, then the condition is considered epilepsy. Any sort of break between the link of the nerve cells and the nervous system can cause this disease.

Uncontrollable activities of the nerve cells can cause seizures of different types and is also known to affect the lifestyle of the patients. Another name for epilepsy is a seizure disorder.

 

Epilepsy Causes

 

There may be no measurable and visible epilepsy causes but here are a few things that may trigger this neurological disease. Epilepsy is an ailment that causes fits or strokes because of the sparking in the circuits of parts of the brain. It is not a mental syndrome but a condition in which the brain cells do not function properly.

Apart from the inability of the nerve cells, genetics can also cause some kinds of epilepsy. Usually, if a family has such genes, it is common for the disease to pass down to the other generations as well. The more common cause of epilepsy is a developmental ailment. This is a frequent reason behind the problem as abnormal functioning of the brain during the growth years commences. Malformations in the brain also tend to make it even more significant and even reduce the effects of medications.

Other reasons that may be triggering epilepsy are head injury and brain infections. Any kind of damage to the head part can suppress some very important fractions of the brain resulting in the disease. Conditions that require the immune system to strike the brain cells can be a proven reason.

 

Epilepsy Diagnosis

One of the most important factors for epilepsy diagnosis is to know what is occurring during the attack. Usually, patients get fits, seizures, conversion, shocks, and unconscious. For a better treatment, it is important to know which of the following symptoms is the patient experiencing. A video of the ongoing attack can also be made by the family members of the patient to be shown to the doctor for a better understanding of the disease.

In most cases, it is first identified whether or not the seizures experienced are because of any other known medical condition. If the case is not so, then the disease is considered to be it. As stated, any sort of symptoms experienced during the attack is important for the diagnosis. Depending on the intensity and frequency some tests can also be performed to find out the real cause of the problem.

The tests that are conducted to find out more about epilepsy include MRI and EEG to look for things such as a tumour in the brain or any sort of infection. The test EEG is run to measure the number of electrical movements in the brain. Sometimes abnormal motions can also lead to seizures.

 

Epilepsy Treatment

 

The treatment of epilepsy differs from person to person. In most cases, the patient is treated with medicines that are safe and effective in the long run. The patient may be required to continue the intake of medicine for several years depending on the diagnosis. The term of the drugs prescribed also widely differs from each person to another. Some might only need it for a few weeks or months and some might need to continue the medicines for their lifetime.

In case the patient is not being able to recover from the medication, further advanced tests are also performed to find out the exact part of the brain causing the issue. Then, the part may be operated on and removed through surgery which is considered great for improvement prospects.

Also, for the patients who are not improving from medication and are not suitable for surgery are recommended a few diet plans. This treatment type can turn out to be the most efficient for kids. Mostly, an increased intake of fats, a reduction in carbohydrates, and a moderate amount of protein are considered perfect for patients suffering from epilepsy.

 

Conclusion

 

Epilepsy is the most common brain disorder which can be treated. It is usually not a threat to life and is not a mental illness.

Medanta Medical Team
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