How Much Do You Know About Seizures?

If an electroencephalogram (EEG) is done when there is seizure activity, the change is seen as unusual bursts of energy. These bursts can occur in one area of the brain or throughout the brain. The symptoms of the seizure depend on the part of the brain affected. Seizures that happen in just one area (localized) are called simple partial seizures. They remain in one part of the brain. They don't greatly affect consciousness. Complex partial seizures begin in one part of the brain, but spread to other parts. They can affect consciousness. Generalized seizures involve the entire brain from the beginning. They usually affect consciousness. They may cause muscle jerking. Normal brain function does not return until these bursts of energy have stopped and the brain has had time to recover. Seizures can occur while a person is awake, or while a person is sleeping.

Many severe injuries and illnesses, such as a tumor, infection, or stroke, can cause seizures. Some genetic conditions may cause epilepsy. Often, no definite cause for the seizures can be found. When seizures continue on a chronic basis without a clear, underlying cause, the condition is called epilepsy.

Epilepsy is often thought of as a childhood condition, but it can develop at any age. About 3 in 10 cases develop in early childhood and in the teen years. People older than 65 also are more at risk for epilepsy.

You often don't need extra sleep if you have epilepsy. But you should try to get enough sleep each night. If you stay up late several nights in a row, you greatly increase your risk of having a seizure. Healthcare providers often ask their patients to stay up late before having an EEG exam because a lack of sleep increases the chances that seizure activity will show up during the exam. Talk with your healthcare provider if you feel tired even with enough sleep. Your medicine dose may need to be changed.

Each state's rules are different. But they often require that you be seizure-free for a specific amount of time before you are allowed to drive. Some states require a healthcare provider's note. You should become familiar with the rules in your state. Keep in mind that they may change over time. You can safely drive a motor vehicle if your seizures are under control.

Mountain climbing is risky both because of the danger of falling if you have a seizure and because the thinner air at higher altitudes can put you at greater risk for a seizure. Swimming and other water sports are risky because you can drown if you lose consciousness. Contact sports like football can put you at risk for brain trauma. That can make seizures worse. Other sports to avoid include skydiving and hang gliding. People with epilepsy should exercise with caution when the weather is very hot. That's because high heat and dehydration can trigger seizures.

Alcohol can be dangerous when taken with sedatives such as phenobarbital. Mixing alcohol with these medicines can lead to coma or death. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can increase the risk for seizures. Even having a drink or two a day (moderate drinking) may affect you. Talk with your healthcare provider to see if your medicine or your condition may cause a problem if you drink.

One of the most important factors in diagnosing epilepsy is a person's history of seizures. The EEG may see brain wave patterns that may mean seizures. A PET scan may help the doctor find out which areas of the brain are affected by the seizures, but it is not needed for the diagnosis. Other imaging tests such as MRI are more often used to find areas of the brain that may have been previously damaged or to find growths that might be causing the seizures.

Anti-epileptic or anticonvulsant medicines are the most common treatments for epilepsy. These medicines can prevent seizures from occurring. They must be taken carefully to keep the correct level of the medicine in the body to prevent seizures. If medicine does not work, healthcare providers may turn to surgery, a special ketogenic diet, or an implanted device that stimulates the vagus nerve leading to the brain.