Roughly 1 in 100 people in South Africa have epilepsy, and 75% of people will have had their first seizure before the age of 20. Epilepsy is the most common neurological condition, and affects people from all social and racial backgrounds, regardless of their intelligence. Any one may develop epilepsy at any stage of life. |
Seizures?
Most people believe that seizures and epilepsy are terms that may be used to describe the same phenomenon. The term "seizure" refers to a single occurrence whilst epilepsy may be defined as two or more unprovoked seizures.
Most people believe that seizures and epilepsy are terms that may be used to describe the same phenomenon. The term "seizure" refers to a single occurrence whilst epilepsy may be defined as two or more unprovoked seizures.
A seizure is the physical manifestation of a sudden electrical surge within the brain, affecting how a person acts and responds for a short time. This aberrant electrical activity is caused by complex changes occurring in the nerve cells. These brain cells either excite or inhibit corresponding brain cells from sending messages. When a seizure occurs, there is an imbalance between exciting and inhibitory activity, and the resulting chemical imbalance may lead to surges of electrical activity, resulting in seizures.
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The nature of seizures may vary, as different lobes of the brain are responsible for different functions, behaviors, movements and experiences.
-Understanding Seizures and Epilepsy. Comprehensive Epilepsy Program.
The types of seizures
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In simple partial seizures, a confined area of the brain is effected by abnormal electrical discharges. The manifestation of symptoms are specifically related to area of the brain affected, by means of example, if the area near the left frontal lobe (the frontal lobe is responsible for right arms movement). is affected, the right arm may involuntarily be lifted up and the head may turn towards the the lifted arm. People are completely conscious and aware of the surroundings. A simple partial seizure may progress to a complex partial seizure.
A complex partial seizure may follow from a simple partial seizure and is characterized by an abnormal electrical discharge in a small area of the temporal lobe which quickly spreads to other nearby areas. The seizure is usually marked with an aura phase lasting 1 to 2min during which people lose touch with their surroundings. Consciousness may be impaired but is not lost completely.
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A generalized seizure may be produced by electrical impulses from throughout the entire brain, with the specific part of the brain generating the seizure being referred to as the focus. A generalized tonic clonic or grand mal seizure is the most dramatic and most common generalized seizure. It is categorized by general body stiffing (tonic phase) lasting 30 to 60 seconds, followed by a phase of violent jerking (clonic phase) also lasting 30 to 60 seconds, after which the patient goes into a deep sleep or post ictal phase. It can be typical for patients to injure themselves during a seizure, and urinary incontinence is not unusual.
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Commonly, people may stare, chew or smack their lips involuntarily, utter meaningless sounds, resist help or move arms and legs in a strange purposeless way. This state may last for several minutes, and most people may not remember what happened during the event. Some may recover fully, whilst others may experience a spreading of the electrical discharge to adjacent areas of the brain, or to the other side of the brain, resulting in a generalized seizure.
-Diagnosis and Acute Management of Seizures in Adults. Hospital Physician Nov 2008
Know your triggers, prevent seizures.
Seizures may often be associated with particular triggers, or changes in your daily habits or routine. Some of the common behaviors and factors that may trigger an epileptic seizure include:
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There is no way to predict what will trigger a seizure in an individual and some may occur for no apparent reason. However, many people are able to recognize that certain behaviors or action are associated with seizure activity. One can consider the following tips for aiding in preventing a seizure:
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- Borrowed form: www.everydayhealth.com
An Injury and Prevention Awareness Project brought to you by Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital Trauma & Emergency Centre.