What is Epilepsy and What are it's Causes?
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which there is disruption in the transmission of normal electrical signals inside the brain. Epilepsy is caused when the nerve cells in the brain fire electrical impulses, which are called seizures. These electrical impulses disrupt normal electrical activity of brain causing a temporary communication problem between nerve cells. The intensity and the outcome of seizures depend on the part of the brain affected.
Even if epilepsy can affect people of any age group, it's most commonly seen in childhood and after 65. Epilepsy affects nearly one percent of the total U.S population that is about 2.5 million of the people. Everyone experiences seizures once in his lifetime. When a person experience one seizure, it doesn't necessary mean that he is having epilepsy. But when he experiences pattern of repeated seizures he may have epilepsy.
There are two main types of epilepsy, which is further divided into sub types.
1. Partial Seizures
- Simple Partial Seizures
- Complex Partial Seizures
2. Generalized Seizures
- Myoclonic seizures
- Tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal)
- Absence seizures (petit mal)
The symptoms of epilepsy depend on the type of epilepsy and may vary from person to person. The person doesn't have control over himself. He may make some involuntary movements like jerking or thrashing parts of the body. He may not be aware of the present situation, may lose consciousness or experience unusual feelings.
The person with epilepsy may experience impairment or physical discomfort during occurrence of seizures. Most of these seizures last for few seconds or minutes. People experiencing seizures may not know that they had seizures and may feel sleepy or confused after few minutes after the seizures.
Causes of Epilepsy
What exactly causes epilepsy in a person can't be determined. In other words there is no known cause for seizures. In about 50 percent of the people with epilepsy no cause is found. But there are certain factors that can cause or increase the risk of developing seizures. They include:
- Brain injuries
- Tumor
- Birth injuries
- Lack of oxygen to the baby's brain during childbirth
- Certain medications
- Lack of sleep
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Stress
- Fever
- Chemical imbalance such as low blood sugar or sodium
- Lead poisoning
- Hyperventilation
- Overstimulation
- Strokes
Epilepsy is not contagious and can't be inherited from families. But some forms of epilepsy may be inherited from the families. A person having a close relative with epilepsy has a slight risk of developing epilepsy. Thus genetic inheritance may play a little role in causing epilepsy.
Epilepsy is a syndrome and not a disease. Epilepsy may look frightening but it is not painful. People with epilepsy can lead a normal life and participate in extracurricular activities. People with epilepsy can even drive as long as they are under medical control.
The management of epilepsy is very simple. People with epilepsy who experience seizures should stay calm and get plenty of sleep. They should eat right and do a regular exercise. Medications also help in controlling epilepsy.