Epilepsy is a brain condition that causes sufferers to experience seizures. When a seizure occurs, electronic communication between neurons of the brain becomes disrupted. If people have two seizures or more in a 24-hour period, they are classed as having epilepsy. But what causes epilepsy and how is it treated?
Understanding What Causes Epilepsy and How Is it Treated:
As with various kinds of medical conditions, the question on what causes epilepsy and how is it treated, is not an easy one to answer. With regards to the causes of epilepsy, the age of the person is usually a main factor. That said, only 50% of epilepsy sufferers would be able to identify a cause of their condition.
Key factors to know include:
1. When people don't know the cause of their epilepsy, it may be due to a genetic problem. However, this is very complex to determine and, in some cases, no genetic testing exists yet.
2. Thirty percent of epileptics find that their brain's structure has changed, and this causes the electrical storms in the brain that lead to seizures.
3. It is possible for children to be born with a change in the structure of their brain, leading to seizures.
4. Thirty percent of children on the autistic spectrum also experience seizures. The relationship between the two is yet unknown.
5. Epilepsy can be caused by a brain infection, if there is scarring.
6. Head injuries can cause epilepsy. These can happen at any age, although severe injuries are more common in young adults.
7. Injuries, tumors, and strokes can lead to epilepsy, which is most common in middle age.
8. Strokes are the most common cause of epilepsy in people who are over 65. Alzheimer's disease can also be a cause of seizures.
Common causes of seizures by age are as follows:
1. For newborns, they are lack of oxygen at birth, brain malformations, inborn metabolism errors, electrolyte problems (low blood magnesium, calcium, or sugar), maternal drug use, and intracranial hemorrhage.
2. For infants and children, they are infections, brain tumors (very rare), or febrile seizures (during fevers).
3. For children and adults, they are genetic factors, congenital conditions (neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, Angelman's syndrome, and Down's syndrome), head trauma, and progressive brain disease (very rarely).
4. For seniors, they are Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and head trauma.
In most people with epilepsy, there are also certain triggers that they must be aware of. These commonly include:
– A specific time of night or day
– Being overtired through lack of sleep or full sleep deprivation
– Other illnesses and/or fevers
– Drug or alcohol use
– Patterns and flashing bright lights
– Hormonal changes, particularly the menstrual cycle in women
– Stress
– Certain types of food, in particular, caffeine
– Low blood sugar due to not eating well
– Certain types of medication
Luckily, epilepsy is treatable. Treatment does not, however, provide a cure. Rather, it can control seizures or even stop them altogether. Treatment is through medication, and it tends to take quite some time to find the right type of medication, and at the right dosage. Furthermore, some of these medications do also come with side effects.