Seizures of all kinds are most commonly treated with medication, and, if they are difficult to control, with diet therapy, nerve stimulation or surgery. It is important for the doctor to get an accurate seizure diagnosis in order to implement the most appropriate kind of treatment. Focal and generalized onset seizures usually have different causes and accurately diagnosing seizure types often helps identify the cause for the seizures.
Seizures that are difficult to control may be improved with nerve stimulation or diet therapy. Patients whose seizures are due to a focal scar or other lesions in the brain may be good candidates for epilepsy surgery. Focal seizures are also called partial seizures since they begin in one area of the brain. They can be caused by any type of focal injury that leaves scar tangles. Medical history or MRI will identify a cause such as trauma , stroke or meningitis in about half of the people who have focal seizures.
Developmental scars — ones that occur as part of fetal and early growth of the brain — are common causes of focal seizures in children. Focal seizures can start in one part of the brain and spread to other areas, causing symptoms that are mild or severe, depending on how much of the brain becomes involved. At first, the person may notice minor symptoms, which is referred to as an aura. The person may have altered feelings or sense that something is about to happen premonition.
Some people experiencing an aura describe a rising sensation in the stomach similar to riding on a roller coaster. As the seizure spreads across the brain, more symptoms appear. If the abnormal electrical activity involves a large area of the brain, the person may feel confused or dazed, or experience minor shaking, muscle stiffening, or fumbling or chewing motions.
Focal seizures that cause altered awareness are called focal unaware seizures or complex partial seizures. The electrical activity of the seizure can remain in one sensory or motor area of the brain, resulting in a focal aware seizure also called simple partial seizure. The person is aware of what is happening, and may notice unusual sensations and movements. Focal seizures can evolve into major events that spread to the entire brain and cause tonic-clonic seizures. Some people who have epilepsy may experience multiple types of seizures.
Some people with seizures have noticed an aura or unusual sensation that serves as a warning signal before a seizure begins. This can come in the form of a visual disturbance, sound, or feeling of anxiety. Auras are sometimes a type of focal, or petit mal, seizure, and can be followed by a grand mal seizure.
These are usually called secondary generalized seizures. Your doctor will need to do specific tests and maybe even try a few different medications to find the right one to manage your specific type of seizure.
Most seizure medications are anti-epileptic medications, like:. To treat seizures with surgery, your doctor has to know the exact location in the brain where your seizures are beginning.
With the advice of your doctor, you may want to consider other options as well. Diet changes , like using a ketogenic diet, can be effective for people who have certain types of refractory epilepsy. Some people report success in reducing the number of seizures caused by triggers by adding complementary, alternative, or natural treatments to their medical seizure treatments, including:.
New onset of epilepsy is most common in childhood or after age For older adults, stroke, traumatic injury, and drug and alcohol use are primary factors. The good news is that there are many options for medications that manage seizures. Your doctor may need to try several medications or a combination of therapies to find the right solution. You may also need to change medications every so often. Lifestyle changes may be required to help control the condition, and you may be prevented from doing certain activities, like drinking alcohol or driving a car.
Unmanaged epilepsy can lead to brain damage and other problems. Seizures can occur suddenly and for no apparent reason. People who have repeated seizures — either because of another condition or for no obvious reason at all — are diagnosed with a condition called epilepsy. Epileptic seizures are caused by abnormal electric signals in the brain that cause you to lose focus, muscle control, or even consciousness. Imagine that the brain consists of an intricate system of highways, with traffic constantly flowing on the vast network of roads.
In a healthy brain, the neurons are continuously processing and transmitting information to one another , helping the brain and body to function normally. But when multiple neurons send the wrong signal, or misfire, this sudden electrical discharge causes changes in sensation and behavior. This is a seizure, and may be characterized by muscle spasms, twitching or loss of consciousness, depending upon the severity of the event. Having a seizure does not always indicate that you suffer from epilepsy.
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