To understand what is epilepsy, it's helpful to think of the brain as typically producing tiny electrical impulses in a predictable rhythm. But when someone experiences a seizure, these electrical impulses become abnormal and send erratic signals.
While every brain has the potential to seize, some people have seizures more frequently. To borrow the colloquial term, their brains are “easily triggered.”
People who experience frequent seizures have a condition called epilepsy—a brain disorder that causes recurring, unprovoked seizures. Below, we give you a brief overview of epilepsy and what life may look like for those affected.
Symptoms of epilepsy
While experiencing a seizure doesn’t necessarily indicate epilepsy, your doctor might diagnose you with epilepsy if you’ve had two or more unexplained seizures, or one seizure with a high risk of experiencing more. Symptoms can include:
- Loss of consciousness: During a seizure, some people may lose consciousness and become unresponsive.
- Convulsions or jerking movements: In many cases, seizures are accompanied by rhythmic jerking movements, often involving the arms and legs.
- Staring spells: Certain seizures can cause a person to stare blankly and become unresponsive for a short period.
- Muscle stiffness or twitching: Seizures can cause muscle stiffness, twitching, or repetitive movements.
- Auras: Some people experience ‘epilepsy warnings’ called auras before a seizure begins. Those auras can include strange smells, tastes, or visual disturbances.
What to do if someone is having a seizure
Don’t panic. There are a few simple things you can do to help someone experiencing a seizure, a key point in understanding what is epilepsy and how to manage it:
- Ease the person onto the floor and turn him gently onto his side.
- Clear the surrounding area of any hard or sharp objects. Remove the person’s glasses and loosen anything that may be around his neck (like a tie).
- Place something soft under his head.
- Remain with the person until the seizure subsides. Then, help him seek support or accompany him home to make sure he is safe.
- If the seizure lasts for more than 5 minutes, call 911.
How is epilepsy diagnosed?
To fully answer what is epilepsy, doctors conduct several tests to determine whether a person has epilepsy and identify its type. Epilepsy testing includes:
- EEG to measure brain activity.
- CT scan to create an image of the brain.
- MRI to show the structure of the brain.
- PET scan to check for brain damage.
- Neuropsychological tests to measure speech, thinking, and memory skills.
What can trigger epilepsy?
Epilepsy can affect anyone of any race, gender, or age group.
Possible causes for epilepsy include genetic factors, developmental brain abnormalities, infection, traumatic brain injury, stroke, or brain tumors. In many cases, once the underlying cause is resolved, the seizures subside. However, about 50% of epilepsy cases do not have an identified cause.
People who are already susceptible to seizures may notice that certain activities act as triggers. Common epilepsy triggers that can induce a seizure are stress, alcohol, sleep deprivation, flashing lights, and hormonal changes.
Can epilepsy be cured?
Although there’s no known cure for epilepsy, developments in treatment have made it possible for most people with epilepsy to effectively control their seizures. The primary methods used to treat epilepsy are:
1. Anti epilepsy medication
Anti epilepsy medication is often the frontline treatment option for epilepsy, successfully controlling seizures in about 70% of epileptic patients.
Not all epilepsy pills are safe for pregnancy, though, so it’s important to discuss any relevant concerns with your doctor. If medication isn’t effective, your care team may recommend pursuing alternative treatment methods (below).
2. Ketogenic diet
Some people find that the keto diet— a high-fat, low-carb diet —helps to reduce seizures, particularly in pediatric epilepsy, epilepsy in children. However, this epilepsy diet has some nutritional downsides, so keto is typically only prescribed when medication has been ineffective. This treatment method requires careful supervision by healthcare professionals.
3. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
A vagus nerve stimulator for epilepsy is a device implanted under the skin of the chest. This device sends mild electrical pulses to the vagus nerve in the neck, thereby preventing or lessening seizures.
4. Responsive neurostimulation (RNS)
This device is implanted into the brain or on its surface, where it delivers targeted electrical stimulation when it detects an impending seizure. The RNS device is most suitable for a type of seizure called focal seizures.
5. Surgery
There are a few surgical options to treat epilepsy. The type of surgery done depends on what type of seizures are occurring and what’s causing them. Typically, surgery for epilepsy is recommended only when the other forms of treatment have proven ineffective.
Wrapping up
Understanding what is epilepsy can empower individuals to manage their condition effectively. If you are having uncontrolled seizures, you may want to explore the above treatment options with your doctor. In the meantime, avoid driving, wear a medical bracelet, and do your best to avoid any identified epilepsy triggers.
Once epilepsy is managed effectively, people may go months or even years without a single seizure. While it can feel discouraging to keep trying to find the right treatment for you, the many people living (and thriving) with epilepsy will tell you that it’s well worth the effort.
You don't have to manage epilepsy alone—explore how Hamaspik can help. Reach out today for resources, support, and personalized care to improve your quality of life.