What
Is Epilepsy?
by
Vicki Kopplin
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain (central nervous system)
resulting in seizures. One seizure is not considered epilepsy. Epilepsy
is "more
than one seizure". A seizure is a change in sensation, awareness,
behavior brought about by abnormal discharges in neurons in the brain.
Normally, neurons carrying electrical impulses form a network allowing
communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Neurons "fire" or
send electrical impulses toward surrounding cells, stimulating neighboring
cells to fire. In people with epilepsy, too many neurons fire at
one time, causing an "electrical storm" within the brain.
There are more than 20 different types of seizures.
What are the Symptoms
of Epilepsy?
According to the Epilepsy
Foundation, the following symptoms may indicate someone has epilepsy
and a medical exam is advised if one or more of these symptoms
are present. The symptoms include:
* short
periods of blackout or confused memory
* occasional "fainting
spells" in which bladder or bowel control
is lost, followed by extreme fatigue
* episodes of blank staring
in children
* brief
periods of no response to questions or instructions
* sudden
falls in a child for no apparent reason
* episodes of blinking
or chewing at inappropriate times
* a convulsion
with or without a fever
How Common
is Epilepsy and How Many are Affected?
Epilepsy can strike
at any time in one's life. About 2.5 million people in the USA
have epilepsy – including more than 60,000
people in Minnesota. Approximately, 125,000 new cases are
diagnosed annually. Anyone can develop epilepsy at any age, but
30% of epilepsy cases are children under 18 years of age and 20%
develop epilepsy before the age of 5. Each year, 120,000 children
seek medical attention because of a first or newly diagnosed seizure.
Of these children, about 37,000 go on to develop recurring seizures
or epilepsy.
What are
the Different Kinds of Epilepsy?
* Generalized Tonic Clonic
(also called Grand Mal)
* Absence (also called
petit mal)
* Complex Partial (also
called psychomotor or temporal lobe)
* Atonic Seizures (also
called drop attacks)
* Myoclonic Seizures
What
are the Myths That Lead to a Misunderstanding About Epilepsy?
There
are many common myths and misconceptions about epilepsy which
serve to illustrate the widespread misunderstanding about epilepsy.
The Epilepsy Foundation and others seek to dispel myths about epilepsy
by increasing awareness and understanding. Here are a few of
the myths. Test yourself. Which did you think were true?
Myth #1:
Epilepsy is rare and not very many people have epilepsy.
There
are more than twice as many people with epilepsy in the USA than
the combined number of people with cerebral palsy (500,000),
muscular dystrophy (250,000), multiple sclerosis (350,000), and
cystic fibrosis (30,000). Epilepsy can occur as a single condition
or may accompany other conditions affecting the brain, such as
cerebral palsy, mental retardation, autism, Alzheimer's disease,
and traumatic brain injury.
Myth #2: Epilepsy is contagious.
You simply cannot catch
epilepsy from another person.
Myth #3: Only kids get
epilepsy.
Epilepsy happens to people
over age 65 almost as often as it does to children under 10 years
of age. Seizures in the elderly are often the after-effect of other
health problems like stroke and heart disease.
Myth #4: People
with epilepsy are disabled and cannot work.
People with epilepsy
have the same range of abilities and intelligence as the rest
of us. Some have severe seizures and cannot work; others are successful
and productive in challenging careers.
Myth #5: You should force
something into the mouth of someone having a seizure.
Absolutely
not! That's a good way to chip teeth, puncture gums, or even
break someone's jaw. The correct first aid is simple. Just gently
roll the person on one side and put something soft under the head
to protect from injury.
Myth #6: You should restrain
someone having a seizure.
Never use restraint. The
seizure will run its course and you cannot stop it.
Myth #7: With
today's medications, epilepsy is largely a solved problem.
Epilepsy
is a chronic medical problem that for many people can be successfully
treated. Unfortunately, treatment does not work for everyone
and there is a critical need for more research to treat and cure
the epilepsies.
Myth #8: You cannot tell
what a person might do during a seizure.
Seizures commonly take
a characteristic form and the individual will do much the same
thing during each seizure episode. The behavior may be inappropriate
for the time and place, but it is unlikely to cause harm to anyone.
Myth
#9: You can die from epilepsy.
People rarely die as a
direct result of an epileptic seizure. Death can result from serious
medical conditions that cause epilepsy. Some examples of these
serious medical conditions are strokes, severe head trauma, or
malignant brain tumor.
Prolonged seizure attacks
(status epilepticus) can result in death.
Also, there is the phenomenon
of sudden unexplained death (SUDEP) that occurs infrequently
in persons with uncontrolled epilepsy.
Myth #10: If I have epilepsy,
I should not get pregnant.
The overwhelming majority
of women with epilepsy have normal, healthy babies. Although the
risk of birth defects is increased over the general population,
the overall risks are low, and can be minimized by working with
your neurologist and obstetrician.
What does the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota offer those affected
by seizures?
Celebrating 50 years of service to Minnesota - the
Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota works to enhance the
quality of life of those affected by seizures. The
Foundation delivers on this mission by educating, connecting
and empowering people. A variety of programs are available,
many free of charge:
* Seizure First Aid & Recognition Training
* Classroom Education
for Students & Teachers
* Workshops & Conferences
* Adult
Peer Groups
* Family
Fun Events
* Shining Star Program – recognizing
children with seizures
* Camp Oz – especially
for kids and teens with seizures
* Free Information & Referral
Services
* Special Events
For more information about epilepsy and the Epilepsy Foundation
of Minnesota please call 1-800-779-0777 or online at www.efmn.org.
