Epilepsy meaning

Epilepsy is a neurological condition that causes unprovoked, recurrent seizures. A seizure is a sudden rush of abnormal electrical activity in your brain. Doctors diagnose epilepsy when you have two or more seizures with no other identifiable cause. Epilepsy affects Anyone can develop epilepsy, but it The two main • generalized seizures • focal seizures Generalized seizures affect your whole brain. Focal, or partial seizures, affect only one part of your brain. A mild seizure may be difficult to recognize. It may only last a few seconds, and you may remain awake while it happens. Stronger seizures can cause spasms and uncontrollable muscle twitches. They can last from a few seconds to several minutes and may cause confusion or loss of consciousness. Afterward, you may have no memory of a seizure happening. There’s currently no cure for epilepsy, but it can be managed with medications and other strategies. Seizures are the main symptom of epilepsy. Symptoms differ from person to person and according to the type of seizure. Focal (partial) seizures A focal aware seizure (previously called • alterations to sense of taste, smell, sight, hearing, or touch • • tingling and twitching of limbs Focal unaware seizures (previously called • staring blankly • unresponsiveness • performing repetitive movements Generalized seizures Subtypes include: • Absence seizures. • Tonic seizures. Tonic seizures cause sudden stiffness in the muscles in your legs, arms, or trunk. • Atonic seizures. ...

Key facts • Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disease of the brain that affects people of all ages. • Around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological diseases globally. • Nearly 80% of people with epilepsy live in low- and middle-income countries. • It is estimated that up to 70% of people living with epilepsy could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated. • The risk of premature death in people with epilepsy is up to three times higher than for the general population. • Three quarters of people with epilepsy living in low-income countries do not get the treatment they need. • In many parts of the world, people with epilepsy and their families suffer from stigma and discrimination. Overview Epilepsy is a chronic noncommunicable disease of the brain that affects around 50 million people worldwide. It is characterized by recurrent seizures, which are brief episodes of involuntary movement that may involve a part of the body (partial) or the entire body (generalized) and are sometimes accompanied by loss of consciousness and control of bowel or bladder function. Seizure episodes are a result of excessive electrical discharges in a group of brain cells. Different parts of the brain can be the site of such discharges. Seizures can vary from the briefest lapses of attention or muscle jerks to severe and prolonged convulsions. Seizures can also vary in frequency, from less than one per year to several per day. One se...

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes recurring, unprovoked seizures. Your doctor may diagnose you with epilepsy if you have two unprovoked seizures or one unprovoked seizure with a high risk of more. Not all seizures are the result of epilepsy. Seizures may relate to a brain injury or a family trait, but often the cause is completely unknown. The word "epilepsy" simply means the same thing as "seizure disorders." It does not state anything about the cause of the person's seizures or their severity.

Recent Examples on the Web While microelectrode arrays were first invented decades ago, the use of these arrays for deep brain stimulation in epilepsy patients has only became FDA approved in the past handful of years. — Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 11 May 2023 Even medical marijuana is still prohibited, with only CBD oil low in THC legal for use by patients with intractable epilepsy. — A.j. Herrington, Forbes, 19 Apr. 2023 In between are twin boys, 4 years old, one with cerebral palsy, the other with autism and epilepsy. — Seyward Darby, Longreads, 8 Mar. 2023 The study’s most immediate applications will involve research into conditions such as autism, epilepsy, schizophrenia and intellectual disabilities. — Mark Johnson, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2022 Another possibility was something known as abdominal epilepsy — a type of seizure that reveals itself through episodes of severe abdominal pain. — Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 16 Nov. 2022 The other molecules that were commonly found in multiple river locations were those used to treat depression, bacterial infections, epilepsy, anxiety, and hormonal that were present at concentrations that could have toxic impacts on marine ecosystems. — Anuradha Varanasi, Forbes, 24 June 2022 Relatively high concentrations of the substance are common in various neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy and schizophrenia. — Saugat Bolakhe, Discover Magazine, 18 May 2022 Under the current bill,...

Mayo Clinic Explains Epilepsy Lily Wong-Kisiel, M.D., Pediatric Neurologist, Mayo Clinic: Hi, I'm Dr. Lily Wong-Kisiel, a pediatric neurologist at Mayo Clinic. In this video, we'll cover the basics of epilepsy. What is it? Who gets it? The symptoms diagnosis and treatment. Whether you're looking for answers for yourself or someone you love, we're here to give you the best information available. First of all, epilepsy is common. Around 3 million people in the U.S. have epilepsy, making it the fourth most common neurological disease after migraine, stroke and Alzheimer's. Epilepsy happens as a result of abnormal electrical brain activity, also known as a seizure, kind of like an electrical storm inside your head. And because your brain controls so much, a lot of different things can go wrong. You may have periods of unusual behaviors, feelings and sometimes loss of awareness. There are many types of seizures, including two main categories: focal, meaning they start in a particular part of your brain, or generalized, meaning the seizures initially involve all areas of the brain. There are some myths about epilepsy we can dismiss. If you are with someone experiencing a seizure, don't put anything in their mouth. They can't actually swallow their tongue. Don't restrain them. And don't worry, epilepsy isn't contagious, so you can't catch it. Who gets it? Although children or older adults are more susceptible, anyone can develop epilepsy. When epilepsy is diagnosed in older adult...

Epilepsy involves seizures, which result from bursts of electricity in the brain. The four main types of seizure are focal, generalized, focal and generalized combined, and unknown. The seizure type determines what kind of epilepsy a person has. Different types of seizures affect the brain in different ways. For example, focal seizures affect only one part of the brain, whereas generalized seizures affect the entire brain. To be categorized as having epilepsy, a person must experience two or more unprovoked seizures. Some people can receive an epilepsy diagnosis if they have had one seizure and a doctor thinks they have a high likelihood of having another. Read on to learn more about the different types of epilepsy and how to manage them. Share on Pinterest diego_cervo/Getty Images Epilepsy is a neurological disorder. Its primary identifying factor is recurrent, unprovoked Abnormal electrical activity in the brain causes seizures. This brain activity affects how a person feels, acts, and behaves. Depending on the seizure type and severity, a person may or may not lose consciousness. Before doctors can diagnose a person with epilepsy, they need to decide if a Many things cause seizures. These include head injuries, toxins, tumors, and infections. Doctors must rule out these potential causes before diagnosing someone with epilepsy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are There are several The three primary seizure types are: • generalized...

There are many types of seizures, and they have a range of symptoms and severity. Seizure types vary by where they begin in the brain and how far they spread. Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. A seizure that lasts longer than five minutes is a medical emergency. Seizures can happen after a stroke or a head injury. They also may be caused by an infection such as meningitis or another illness. Many times, though, the cause is unknown. Most seizure disorders can be controlled with medicine. However, managing seizures can affect your daily life. You can work with your health care provider to balance seizure control and medicine side effects. Symptoms Symptoms vary based on the type of seizure. They also can range from mild to severe. Seizure symptoms may include: • Temporary confusion. • A staring spell. • Jerking movements of the arms and legs that can't be controlled. • Loss of consciousness or awareness. • Cognitive or emotional changes. They may include fear, anxiety or a feeling that you've already lived this moment, known as deja vu. Health care providers typically classify seizures as focal or generalized. Seizures are classified based on how and where the brain activity causing the seizure began. If providers don't know how the seizures began, they may classify the seizures as unknown onset. Focal seizures Focal seizures result from electrical activity in one area of the brain. This type of seizure can occur with or without loss of consciousness: • Foc...