Electrical activity is happening in our brain all the time. A seizure happens when there is a sudden burst of intense electrical activity in the brain. This patient guide aims to give some information on epilepsy and seizures to help understand the condition.
What are Epilepsy and Seizures?
There are many different types of seizure. They can be classed by where in the brain the epileptic activity starts.
Focal (partial) seizures – In these seizures, the epileptic activity starts in just a part of your brain. You may stay alert in this type of seizure. Sometimes, epileptic activity starts as a focal seizure, spreads to the rest of your brain and becomes a generalised seizure.
Generalised seizures – These seizures involve epileptic activity in both halves of your brain. You lose consciousness during this type of seizure, although sometimes it can be so brief that no one notices. The muscles in your body may stiffen and/or jerk. You may fall down.
What Triggers a Seizure?
Some things make seizures more likely for some people with epilepsy. These are often referred to as ‘triggers’. These can be things like stress, not sleeping well and drinking too much alcohol. Some people say they have more seizures if they miss meals. Not taking your epilepsy medicine is another common trigger. A very small number of people with epilepsy have seizures triggered by lights that flash or flicker.
Diagnosis and Treatment
One of the most important parts of getting the right treatment for your seizures is getting the right diagnosis. Doctors base their diagnosis on what they are told about your seizures so keeping a record is important. With this information, they can refer you to a neurologist. The neurology team can then assess your condition so they can provide a treatment plan, often with the use of medication.
Contact Dr Paviour
Dr Dominic Paviour is highly rated as a private Neurologist in London, not only by his peers but most importantly, by his patients. His clinics are provided on various days so finding a suitable time and location is straightforward.
Simply contact us so we can respond and discuss how we can help you with your epilepsy and seizures.
