Epilepsy
Sofia Mocarski C2 6/11/15
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a brain disorder, in the nervous system, that causes people to have recurring seizures. These seizures cannot be caused by temporary medical effects like a high fever. The way a seizure looks depends on the type of seizure they are having. Such as, Generalized seizures which affect both side of the brain and Focal seizures which affect only one part of the brain.
10 Facts
- Epilepsy has no known cause, but sometimes it can be caused by different conditions that effect the brain. Such as, stroke, brain tumor, brain injury, central nervous system infection.
- What a seizure looks like depends on what type of seizure it is. Some look like staring spells others a person may collapse and shake violently.
- Epilepsy is not contagious, cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
- In 2013, about 4.3 billion people over the age of 18 had been diagnosed with epilepsy or another seizure disorder
- Many people are diagnosed with epilepsy as children or teens, whereas some are diagnosed later on.
- Some things that can trigger epileptic seizures are; flashing lights, lack of sleep, stress, staring at computers for too long, fevers, and so on.
- Epileptics go to doctors called neurologists that specialize in parts of the nervous system.
- If you are diagnosed with epilepsy, the treatment most commonly given is medication. Although some doctors implant a vagus which is a device that sends signals from the vagus nerve to the neck.
- Epilepsy is more common than Parkinson's disease , multiple sclerosis , cerebral palsy , and muscular dystrophy all combined.
- There is a 10% risk of getting one seizure in a lifetime that varies at different age groups.
Ways To Improve Health
Ways epileptics can improve their health is by taking extra precautions in daily activities, like swimming with other people instead of alone in case of having a seizure and drowning. They should also take the medication prescribed by their doctor, and visit their neurologist for the necessary tests in order to stay updated with their condition. Epileptics should also recognize their seizure triggers, and learn to live around them. Doing this willl help them avoid seizures which will improve their life. To prevent epilepsy you should stay healthy during your pregnancy, problems during pregnancy and childbirth can lead to epilepsy. You should also prevent traumatic brain injuries by wearing a seatbelt, riding with a helmet, and so on.
Citations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 06 Jan. 2015. Web. 12 June 2015.
- "TeensHealth." Information about Health, Growth and Emotions for Teens : .org. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 June 2015.
- "WebMD - Better Information. Better Health." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 12 June 2015.