Epilepsy is a neurological disorder caused by abnormal activity in the brain cells, and it is the fourth most common neurological problem after stroke, migraine, and Alzheimer’s. Epilepsy is also called a seizure, and there are some common symptoms of seizures, such as staring blankly at a single place, loss of awareness, and uncontrolled twitching. Even minor seizures can be dangerous, especially if they occur during swimming and driving. There are different types of seizures; some people may lose awareness during a seizure, while others don’t. Two main types of epilepsy are focal and generalised, in which focal seizures affect specific parts of the brain and are differentiated by symptoms such as sensation, unresponsiveness or repetitive actions. In general, it affects the entire brain; loss of consciousness, tongue biting, and falls on the ground are the common symptoms. Sometimes, focal seizures can progress into generalized seizures, and seizures last for one to two minutes; these seizures can occur in any age group. It is important to seek medical attention if someone is experiencing seizures or if you suspect that someone has seizures around you.
Causes of Epilepsy
In many cases, the exact reason may remain unknown for seizures or epilepsy, but some common causes are infection, brain tumor, stroke, and chemical imbalance in the blood.
Focal Seizures
When activity happens in one area of the brain, they are called a focal seizure, and these fall under two categories.
Focal Seizures With Preserved Consciousness
These seizures are called simple partial seizures, in which patients do not lose awareness or responsiveness. These types of seizures may change the emotions, change the way things look, smell, feel, and sound. In this type of seizure, patients may experience jerks in the body parts such as arms and legs. Tingling, dizziness, and flashing lights are also symptoms of focal seizures.
Focal Seizures with Impaired Consciousness
These seizures are called complex partial seizures, in which patients may lose responsiveness. Patients may seem like they are in a dream in this type of seizure; some people stare into space continuously and do not respond in a typical way to the environment. People with impaired consciousness may do some movements, such as hand rubbing and walking in a circle.
Symptoms of focal seizures may be confused with other conditions, such as migraine or mental illness.
Temporal Lobe Seizures
This type of seizure begins in the area of the brain called the temporal lobes, which alter emotions and play a role in short-term memory. Patients with these types of seizures experience aura, meaning a sudden change in emotions such as fear or joy. They may feel the change in taste, smell, or they may smack their lips or make movements with their fingers.
Frontal Lobe Seizures
This type of seizure begins from the front of the brain; people with this type of seizure move their head and eyes to one side. They may scream or laugh and not respond when spoken to.
Occipital Lobe Seizures
This type of seizure may affect the vision of the patient, and how people see; people with this type of seizure see things that are not there. Sometimes during these seizures, people may lose all of their vision.
Generalized Seizures
Absence Seizures
This type of seizure typically occurs in children, with or without moving the body, and they may see into the space continuously. Movements such as eye blinking and lip smacking can happen 100 times a day.
Tonic Seizures
These seizures may cause stiff muscles, usually in the back, arm, or leg and may also affect consciousness, and a person may fall on the ground.
When to See a Doctor
There are a few circumstances that may require you to seek immediate medical help, these include:
- Injuring yourself during seizures
- Not breathing after the seizure ends
- Having a second seizure after a first
- A seizure caused by heat exhaustion
Conclusion
Epilepsy is a neurological problem that occurs due to abnormal activities of brain cells; different types of seizures occur in people. The cause of epilepsy can vary from one person to another; what triggers epilepsy in one patient may not be the cause in another person. Epilepsy is a manageable neurological problem with proper diagnosis and treatment right on time. Twitching lips, staring at a blank space without responding, or falling to the ground are the common symptoms and if you notice someone around you, then seeking medical help is important. You can visit Jhawar Neuro Hospital for medical examination if you are struggling with any type of problem related to your brain. Dr. Sukhdeep Singh Jhawar is a professional and well-experienced neurologist with whom you can discuss your brain-related problems for better results.
FAQs
- Is it possible to treat epilepsy?
Yes, epilepsy can be treated with medicines and in some cases epilepsy can be managed by some other treatments which are recommended by neurologists.
- Can a person live a normal life with epilepsy?
Yes, many people struggling with epilepsy are living active lives and fulfilling their desires.
