Amongst the diseases that have frequently gripped Americans,
Epilepsy is also the one. Though epilepsy allows its patients to
lead a normal life yet the disease can be fatal due to the
unexpected occurrence of seizures. Epilepsy can basically be
defined as a disorder of the nervous system that causes a person
to become unconscious suddenly, often with violent movements of
the body. This attack that affects the individual's brain is
termed as 'seizure'. Seizures happen due to the large electrical
activity in the cranium (the bone structure that forms the head
and borders and protects the brain). An epileptic is hit by a
seizure suddenly any time and anywhere. Every individual has his
own resistance to fight these seizures which is known as the
seizure threshold. The minimum the seizure threshold, frequent
are the seizure attacks and impacts. Seizures vary from person
to person; a person during this attack behaves according to the
kind of seizure.
Causes of Epilepsy-
It is very difficult to trace the exact foundations of this
disease. However, there is a threefold division made in this
regard-
1. Symptomatic Epilepsy- the case of epilepsy in which the
reasons behind the disease can be well known. The causes can be
various such as head injuries, meningitis, brain stroke and any
other brain infection etc. The knowledge of the causes leads to
an adequate and appropriate drug medication which varies from
person to person.
2. Idiopathic Epilepsy - is the case when no lucid causes behind
epilepsy seizures are revealed. Having a low seizure threshold
is often deemed to be the only reason behind it. But, idiopathic
epilepsy does respond well to its treatment by drugs.
3. Cryptogenic Epilepsy- it is the most challenging kind of
epilepsy for the doctors for no reasons to it are known and
medicines too are not much effective.
Preventing and Healing Epilepsy- Diet is often given importance
in case of epilepsy. This is because many epilepsy patients are
found to have less of omega-3 fatty acid DHA in their blood. So,
a diet rich in this like the fatty fish, canned tuna are often
recommended to make up this deficiency.
Since epilepsy is read and administered differently in case of
men, women and children, the remedies too differ in each case.
For instance, epileptic children are mostly advised a diet which
is rich in fats, adequate proteins and low in carbohydrates.
Apart form diet prescription; epileptic patients are given
anti-epileptic or anti-convulsion drugs. These drugs are mean to
control and prevent the seizures. These drugs increase the
patient's seizure threshold and avert the electrical charges in
the brain that can cause seizures. Anti - convulsion drugs are
found to be quite successful in controlling seizures. For many
people stress busters, biofeedback, acupuncture and meditation
are cures to epilepsy.
Epilepsy Patients and You
Epileptic seizures can be quite scary for the rest of the
public. Seizures can result in numbness, dizziness, and plucking
clothes, smacking lips, swallowing and wandering around. Atonic
seizures lead to a fall due to unexpected loss of muscle
control; strong jerks to the body and at times even loss of
consciousness are involved in myoclonic seizures and the most
dreadful Tonic- clonic seizures result in an unconscious and
stiffened body and loss of oxygen due to irregular breathing.
But if any such seizure happens in public or at home, it is the
duty of the rest to help the patient. Don't start hitting that
person, stuff his mouth with something and give him some
eatables or drinks. Just try to prevent him from any serious
injury. Put some cushions near his head if at home or take the
person to a roadside safe place if seizure hits publicly. Call
an ambulance as fast as possible or rush to the nearest
hospital.
About the author:
Mansi gupta writes about
epilepsy .
