If you have been experiencing symptoms and have visited a GP who has given you a diagnosis, you will have many questions. What is epilepsy? What happens when you have epilepsy? How is epilepsy managed?
This guide is aimed at helping you understand some of your questions and concerns.
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and affects people of all ages. There is electrical activity happening in our brain all the time. A seizure happens when there is a sudden burst of intense electrical activity in the brain. This is known as epilepsy.
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 can be things like stress, not sleeping well and drinking too much alcohol. Some people say they have more seizures if they miss meals. These are often referred to as ‘triggers’.
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.
How is Epilepsy Managed?
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. With this information, they can refer you to a neurologist. The neurology team can then assess your condition and provide a treatment plan, often with the use of medication.
Contact Dr Paviour
Whilst this overview gives you some insights in to the condition, to understand more, you are welcome to contact Dr Dominic Paviour. He 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 straight forward.
What is epilepsy? How do you manage it? What is the impact of the condition on your day to day life? These are all questions you may have and Dr Paviour will provide a clear practical plan to help you manage the condition.
Simply contact us here so we can arrange an appointment.
