Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent, spontaneous seizures. If you experience two unexplained seizures or one unexplained seizure with a high probability of subsequent ones, the Best Neurologist in Lahore may diagnose you with epilepsy. Epilepsy is not the only cause of seizures. Although brain damage or a genetic predisposition may be related to seizures, the exact reason is frequently unknown.
Simply put, “seizure disorders” and “epilepsy” have the same meanings. It says nothing about the source or severity of the person’s seizures.
SEIZURE AND ITS TYPES
Before discussing epilepsy, it is necessary to first understand seizures and their types. Seizures are brief surges of abnormally high levels of brain electrical activity that can change how you look and behave. The location and manner in which the seizure manifests itself can have significant effects.
Generalized seizures and focal seizures are the two basic categories of seizures. While focal or partial seizures only impact one area of the brain, generalized seizures affect your entire brain.
It could be challenging to identify a minor seizure. Your consciousness can remain intact while the episode lasts only a few seconds. Spasms and uncontrollable muscular twitches might result from more severe seizures. They may cause confusion or unconsciousness and last from a few seconds to many minutes. It is possible that afterward, you will not remember having a seizure.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Seizures can have a variety of characteristics, depending on where in the brain the disruption first appears and how far it develops. Temporary symptoms include loss of awareness or consciousness as well as impairments in movement, mood, or other cognitive processes, as well as changes of sense (including vision, hearing, and taste).
Epilepsy is associated with an increased incidence of psychological illnesses, such as anxiety and sadness, as well as more physical issues (such as fractures and bruising from seizure-related traumas). Similarly to this, patients with epilepsy have a risk of dying prematurely which is approximately three times higher than that of the general population, with rural areas and developing countries having the highest rates of early mortality.
CAUSES
The causes of epilepsy vary from person to person, and some persons have no apparent reason. Others have epilepsy that can be directly linked to genetics, brain damage, autoimmune diseases, metabolic problems, or infectious infections. The symptoms, diagnoses, and available treatments vary depending on the reason.
DIAGNOSIS
As soon as you can, consult a doctor if you believe you may have had a seizure. A seizure may be a sign of a severe medical condition. Your doctor will select the beneficial tests based on your medical history and symptoms. Your motor skills and brain function will be tested during a neurological examination.
It is necessary to rule out other conditions before making an epilepsy diagnosis. The most common test to determine epilepsy is the electroencephalogram (EEG). Electrodes are applied to the scalp during this painless and noninvasive test to look for atypical electrical patterns in the brain. During the test, you can be asked to do a certain activity. The test may occasionally be carried out while you are asleep.
TREATMENT
Despite the fact that epilepsy has no known cure, advancements in therapy have made it possible for the majority of patients to control their seizures. Typically, finding the proper medication or Anti-Epileptic Drug (AED) is the initial step in treatment. If seizures persist, other therapy including devices, dietary regimens, or surgery may be able to manage them.
If you have been diagnosed with epilepsy, it is best you get Col. (R), Dr. Zahid Rustam, on board to figure out how to manage your seizures in a long run.
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