Epilepsy (seizure disorder) is a long-term illness that causes sufferers to experience recurrent and unprovoked seizures. Anyone can be affected by epilepsy, the disease is age, gender and race neutral, but cases are most common in young children and older adults.
Mechanisms in the Brain
The cells in the brain are responsible for sending and receiving messages from all areas of the body. These messages are conveyed through a continuous flow of electricity that passes from one cell to another. In epilepsy, these electrical signals are disrupted, resulting in a burst of electrical energy (like an uncontrollable storm) between cells in the brain.
As a result, a person experiences seizures that include changes in consciousness, altered muscle control (twitching or jerking), sensations, emotions, and behavior. Seizures are mild (lasting only for a few seconds and a person may still be conscious) and more intense (lasting from a few seconds to several minutes in an uncontrollable manner, even leading to loss of consciousness).
Epilepsy occurs due to a disturbance of electrical signals in the brain.
Symptoms
Seizures are categorized based on their onset in the brain, the level of consciousness during the seizure, and the presence or absence of muscle movement. In general, there are 2 main types of seizures: generalized seizures (affecting the entire brain) and focal seizures (affecting one part of the brain). Here's an explanation:
1. Generalized Seizures
Generalized seizures affect a wider network of cells on both sides of the brain simultaneously. Generalized seizures consist of 6 subtypes, namely:
-
Absence seizures: blank stares, brief loss of consciousness, or repetitive movements such as lip smacking or blinking
-
Atonic seizures: sudden stiffness of the muscles in the legs, arms, or trunk
-
Tonic seizures: sudden loss of muscle control that causes the body to fall over
-
Clonic seizure: repetitive, jerky movements of the face, neck and arm muscles
-
Myoclonic seizures: spontaneous twitching of the arms or legs and may occur simultaneously.
-
Tonic-clonic seizures: body rigidity, trembling, loss of bladder or bowel control, biting of the tongue, loss of consciousness, and no recollection of having ever experienced one.
2. Focal seizures
Focal seizures or formerly called partial seizures do not cause loss of consciousness. They start in one area on one side of the brain. Focal seizures consist of 2 subtypes, namely:
- Conscious seizures: remaining conscious during the seizure, sensory changes (taste, smell, sound), emotional changes, uncontrollable muscle movements (legs or arms), and experiences such as seeing flashing lights, feeling dizzy, or tingling sensations.
- Consciousness-impairing seizures: loss of consciousness during the seizure, dreamy blank stare, and repetitive movements (blinking of eyes, lips, chewing, rubbing hands, or finger movements).
Seizure Triggers
Figuring out what causes a seizure to occur is not always easy. A single event is not always caused by a single trigger, but more often by a combination of factors. Some people with epilepsy are able to identify them, but others are not. Some of the most commonly known triggers are as follows:
-
Sleep problems (lack of sleep, fatigue, sleep disturbance)
-
Stress
-
Illness or fever
-
Bright lights or flashing lights
-
Consumption of caffeine, alcohol, or drugs
-
Skipping meals, overeating, or consumption of certain foods
-
Low blood sugar levels
-
Head injury
Sleep problems can trigger seizures
Since not everyone knows what triggers their seizures, the best strategy to find out is to keep a seizure journal. Make a note of the date and time, what activities you are doing, what is happening around you, unusual sights, smells or sounds, stress triggers, eating certain foods and sleep quality.
Epilepsy can affect anyone, but is most common in children and older adults. The disease is caused by an uncontrollable disruption of electrical signals in the brain, causing a person to experience seizures, either generalized or focal. The best way to identify triggers is to keep a seizure journal.
Let's download the Newfemme application now to get tips and other interesting information!