Living With Epilepsy

When something goes wrong in the electric fuse box that is the human brain, an epileptic fit is likely to begin.

Call it a short circuit or a burnt fuse. Once a cluster of nerve cells in the brain becomes disorganized, this leads to seizures which vary from person to person. Some people experience seizures without knowing it. But when they become frequent, there is a high risk of injury to the brain.

Epilepsy is a disorder that disrupts the transmission of electrical signals inside the brain. Although you may assume that epilepsy always causes episodes of uncontrolled movements and loss of consciousness, the condition is actually quite variable. Symptom episodes - known as seizures - are often subtle, causing strange sensations, emotions and behavior. Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds when having a seizure, while others have full-fledged convulsions,” explained the Mayo Clinic.

Various factors account for epilepsy: defective genes, a head injury, central nervous system infection or any disease that injures your brain. Most cases, however, are idiopathic, meaning of unknown cause. It is difficult to determine who is likely to have epilepsy although the condition appears to be inherited and is more common in men than women.

“The onset of epilepsy is most common during childhood and after age 65, but the condition can occur at any age. Treatments may leave you free of seizures, or at least reduce their frequency and intensity. Many children with epilepsy even outgrow the condition with age,” revealed the Mayo Clinic.

Epileptic seizures may be subtle or characterized by full-blown convulsions. However, a single seizure doesn’t mean you have epilepsy since this can occur with high fever. With two or more seizures, the likelihood that you have epilepsy is greater.

A seizure can result in total loss of consciousness, staring spells or uncontrollable movements of the arms and legs. The patient may cry out before he stiffens and falls to the ground. The limbs may assume unusual positions because of muscle spasms and urinary and bowel control is sometimes lost. This is followed by wild thrashing movements before the patient falls into a deep sleep. On awakening, he or she may have a headache.

“Symptoms vary depending on the type of seizure. In most cases, a person with epilepsy will tend to have the same type of seizure each time, so the symptoms will be very similar from episode to episode. But some people have many different types of seizures, with different symptoms each time,” the Mayo Clinic said.

Thanks to modern medicine, epileptic seizures can be controlled by a number of drugs. The right drug can make the patient seizure-free and medication can be discontinued if the patient if free of symptoms after two or more years.

To prevent further attacks, limit your intake of alcohol, stop smoking, eat right, exercise regularly, learn to manage stress and get enough sleep. To help you rest, take Sedamine – the supplement that promotes natural sleep. Visit http://sedamine.com/ for details.