What is epilepsy/seizure disorder?

Epilepsy, which is also known as seizure disorders, is a brain situation that results in recurring seizures. There are various forms of epilepsy. The cause is known in some individuals, while it remains unknown in others. Epilepsy is widespread, with an estimated 1.2% of the U.S. population having active epilepsy, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It can affect people of any gender, race, ethnicity, and age.

Symptoms of seizure

The signs of seizure can vary widely. It is seen that some people may lack awareness during a seizure, whereas others don’t face it. During a seizure, some individuals may experience a brief period of staring into space, while others may have convulsions with repeated twitching of their arms or legs.

Suffering from a seizure does not mean you have epilepsy. Epilepsy is diagnosed when you have at least two unprovoked seizures for at least one day apart. The symptoms of seizure may vary depending upon the type of seizure. We know that epilepsy occurs because of some specific brain activity, whereas seizures can impact any brain process.

Here are some common symptoms of seizure disorders include:

• A brief period of disorientation.
• Fixed gaze episode.
• Muscle rigidity.
• Involuntary twitching of limbs.
• Fainting.
• Emotional symptoms like terror, nervousness, or a sense of familiarity.

It is seen that some people with epilepsy have changed their behavior and also have symptoms of psychosis. Also, most people with epilepsy tend to have the same kind of seizure every time, and the signs are usually similar in each episode.

Cause of Seizure

There is no identifiable cause of epilepsy in about half of the people dealing with the condition. In the other half, the condition may be traced to various factors like:

Genetic influence: If any of your family members or blood relatives have epilepsy, the chances are very high to have epilepsy for the next generation.

Head trauma: Head injury or traumatic injuries can cause epilepsy.

Brain factors:  We are well known that some brain tumors can result in epilepsy. People suffering from blood vessel conditions like arteriovenous malformations and cavernous malformations are more likely to have seizures. In adults above 35, stroke is the leading cause.

Infections: HIV, meningitis, viral encephalitis, and some parasitic infections can result in epilepsy.

Injury before birth: Babies are more sensitive to brain damage before birth, which can be caused by several factors. This can be because of the infection in the mother, insufficient nutrition, or the absence of enough oxygen. This leads to brain damage and results in epilepsy or cerebral palsy.

Developmental conditions: People dealing with autism are closer to developing conditions of epilepsy. According to some research, people with epilepsy are more likely to have ADHD and other developmental conditions.

Seizure triggers

Seizures can be easily triggered by the things present in your environment. The triggers of seizures do not cause epilepsy, but they generally trigger seizures in those who have epilepsy. Many individuals with epilepsy do not have consistent triggers that consistently result in a seizure. However, the sufferers can quickly identify the factors that make it easier to have a seizure disorders. Some of the possible seizure triggers are:

• Flashing lights.
• Stress.
• Lack of sleep.
• Alcohol.
• Change in hormones during the menstrual cycle.
• Either take more than the prescribed antiseizure medicine or skip the dose.
• Skipped meals.
• Dehydration.
• Illness.
• Illicit drug use.

Risk factors

Here are some factors that increase the risk of epilepsy:

Age: The starting of epilepsy is more common in children and older people, although the situation can occur at any time.

Family history: If you have any past family record of epilepsy, you may be at higher risk of seizures.

Head injuries: It is seen that in some cases, head injuries are responsible for epilepsy. You must be careful while riding and driving as these have a higher chance of causing head injuries.

Stroke and other vascular disease: It can easily cause brain damage. Brain damage can easily trigger epilepsy and seizures. You can reduce the risk by using limited alcohol and avoiding smoking.

Dementia: It generally increases the risk of seizures in older people.

Brain infection: Infections like meningitis can cause inflammation in the brain and spines, increasing the risk of seizure.

Seizures in childhood: High fever during childhood can sometimes result in seizures. However, children who have seizures because of high fever do not develop epilepsy. The chances of epilepsy increase when a child has a long fever associated with seizures and other nervous system conditions or a family history of epilepsy.

Seizure disorders in adults

We know well that a seizure disorders is caused by an abnormal change in brain activity. In science, we can say a condition that disrupts the communication between neurons and nerve cells in the brain.

In adults, seizure disorders are mainly caused by a specific condition or traumatic event. This is entirely different from the seizure disorders that occur during childhood, which is mainly because of idiopathic epilepsy or any related unknown causes.

Some of the possible causes of seizure in adults may include:

• Central nervous system infection.
• Brain tumor.
• Traumatic brain injury.
• Substance use and withdrawal.
• Alcohol poisoning and withdrawal.
• Stroke.

Childhood seizure disorders

A seizure is abnormal brain activity, and it is a common illness. About one in 10 people has experienced a seizure. Seizures are divided into two types: provoked and unprovoked.

Provoked can be caused by reasons like high or low blood sugar, infection, very high blood pressure, head injury, liver failure, and high fever, although they are extremely rare. Whereas unprovoked seizure disorders do not have any immediate and clear cause. Seizure disorders generally start at the age of 2 to 13.

Types of seizure disorder

The two major types of seizure are generalized and focal.

Generalized seizures: Generalized seizures are divided into two main types. They are:

Tonic-clonic seizures: Formerly referred to as “grand mal” seizures (derived from the French term for “serious illness”), tonic-clonic seizures are typically the most easily identifiable. They occur in the following stages:

1. Tonic: usually for 10 to 30 seconds.
2. Clonic: Usually for 30 to 60 seconds but in some cases for longer.
3. Post-seizure recovery: This lasts for up to 30 minutes.

Absence seizures: Generally termed “petit mal” (French for “little illness“) seizures, these are frequently seen in children. Absence seizures often resemble daydreaming, “spacing out,” or gazing into the distance (a “thousand-yard stare”). These seizures conclude rapidly with no requirement for a recovery period. Absence seizures are brief but can occur dozens or even hundreds of times in a day. They are often mistaken for distraction or a symptom of a learning disability.

Focal seizures: This kind of seizure affects the small area of your brain and stays in one hemisphere. They are also called partial seizures and auras. Symptoms like uncontrolled muscle movements spread to different places on one side of the body, like from face to hand or foot on the same side.

Focal seizures include the following types:

1. Simple focal seizures: also known as simple partial seizures. Before they happen, you will be aware of it. In this kind of seizure, an aura is the seizure itself and not a warning sign.
2.  Complex focal seizures: They are also referred to as complex partial seizures, which can interfere with your perception of your surroundings or what is happening to you.

Anxiety seizure in sleep

If you have epilepsy, anxiety can trigger seizures. It can also cause seizures in those people without epilepsy, which is also termed psychogenic nonepileptic seizures. It is very common to feel anxious at times. However, anxiety can feel more common for some people and impact their daily lives, which is also termed an anxiety disorder.

The cause of anxiety-induced seizures can vary from each people. Stress can easily cause seizures called psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). In general, stress can be short, whereas some people may experience it for more periods than chronic stress, and it greatly impacts their quality of life.

Treatment

Here are some possible treatments for seizures:

Medication: The following are the primary treatments for individuals with epilepsy. There are different types of drugs that are available to either stop seizures or reduce their effects. Intravenous (IV) medications are effective in treating seizures when they occur.

Epilepsy surgery: In some cases, the medicine fails to work, so medics use surgery to stop seizure disorders by stopping or disconnecting the problem-causing area with the brain.

Diet changes: Ketogenic diets, also called low—or no-carb diets, have the potential to completely stop or decrease the frequency of epileptic seizures. These diets are very effective for people who can not tolerate medicine or surgery. Physicians prescribe a diet to manage the condition and help people live effectively.

Brain stimulation: This therapy involves the use of an implanted device in the brain that administers a gentle electrical current. Electrical currents can disrupt and prevent the activity causing seizures. Two types of brain stimulation are available: deep brain stimulation and responsive neurostimulation.

Vagal nerve stimulation: The 10th cranial nerve, or the vagal nerve, directly connects to the brain. If electric stimulation is given on the left side of this nerve, it can help reduce seizures.

Conclusion

I hope you have learned a lot about seizure disorders and ways to cure them. Most people do not know the signs of seizures, but this blog may have taught you some important points about the symptoms of seizures. Seizures are curable if treated on time. Also, if you or any of your close ones are going through a seizure, then you must help them and provide a good environment for better results.