If you have been diagnosed with epilepsy, then you probably have a lot of questions. The first of which is perhaps ‘What Is Epilepsy?’. Read on to find some answers to your questions.
What Is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a condition that causes seizures. Bursts of electrical activity in the brain cause seizures. This burst of activity can have lots of different effects. Epilepsy can first appear at any age. It is most often first seen in childhood, or in people over the age of 60.
It is not clear what happens to cause epilepsy. There is probably a genetic component as around 1 in 3 people who get a diagnosis of epilepsy have a family member with the condition. A brain injury can also lead to an epilepsy diagnosis.
What Are The Symptoms?
Epileptic seizures affect different people differently. There is the ‘classic’ fit, where the body jerks and shakes uncontrollably. But seizures can also present themselves as a loss of awareness, the body becoming stiff or experiencing strange sensations and smells.
What Are The Treatments?
The main treatment for epilepsy is anti-epileptic drugs. These are drugs that prevent seizures. There are several different medications that you can take for epilepsy. So, it can take a few tries to find the right medication for each individual.
For some patients, surgery might be an option. Your doctor might remove a small piece of brain tissue. Another option is to out an electrical device in the body to stop the seizures.
For some people, following a specific diet can help greatly as well.
Finding A Doctor
If you have been diagnosed with epilepsy, then you need to choose a doctor you can feel confident in. Dr Paviour is a London based consultant neurologist. So, make an appointment today to get the experienced and expert help you need to manage your condition.
