What should i know about epilepsy

In other kinds of seizures, the person may or may not lose consciousness. Most people with epilepsy have more than one kind of seizure. Sometimes a doctor can know if you have epilepsy by the kind of seizures you have. An EEG, which is a brain wave test, can be useful. When the diagnosis is uncertain, EEG-video monitoring can be used. During this kind of testing, an EEG monitors your brain's activity and cameras videotape body movement and behavior during a seizure.

This test may take several days in a special facility. Most seizures can be controlled with anti-epileptic medicines. The kind of medicine you will take depends on the following things: How often you have seizures. Like most medicines, they sometimes have side effects. These medicines might make you feel tired or dizzy.

You may feel slightly uncoordinated. You may also have some vision problems. Not always. But seizures are controlled with medicine in about 70 percent of people with epilepsy.

If medicines do not work, other treatment options can be considered. Surgery can be very effective. Some kinds of epilepsy can be treated with a special, very strict diet called a ketogenic diet. Another treatment is called vagus nerve stimulation. A little machine that is like a pacemaker is put under your skin. About 1 in 10 people may have a seizure during their lifetime. First aid for seizures involves keeping the person safe until the seizure stops on its own and knowing when to call for emergency help.

Professionals such as school nurses and other school staff, law enforcement, first responders, and childcare workers should also understand epilepsy and how to offer first aid. CDC supports free training programs for these groups through a partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation. Most people with epilepsy can do the same things as those without epilepsy.

There are many successful people with epilepsy who work in medicine, sports, entertainment, government, and other professions.

People with uncontrolled seizures or severe types of epilepsy face more challenges and may find it harder to work or go to school regularly. Some adults with epilepsy have a hard time finding jobs, transportation, and affordable health care. MYTH 3: You can restrain someone during a tonic clonic seizure and put your finger in their mouth.

FACT 3: During a tonic clonic seizure you should never hold the person down or put anything in their mouth. It's important to know exactly what to do when someone has a tonic clonic seizure so that you can act quickly. FACT 5: Having epilepsy can affect people in different ways.

For example, some people may have problems with sleep or memory and for some people epilepsy may affect their mental health. There are many different types of epileptic seizure. Any of us could potentially have a single epileptic seizure at some point in our lives.

This is not the same as having epilepsy, which is a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain. Epilepsy is not just one condition, but a group of many different 'epilepsies' with one thing in common: a tendency to have seizures that start in the brain.

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Epilepsy facts and myths. Most seizures happen suddenly without warning, last a short time a few seconds or minutes and stop by themselves. Seizures can be different for each person. Just knowing that someone has epilepsy does not tell you what their epilepsy is like, or what seizures they have.

The names of seizures used on this page describe what happens during the seizure. Some people have more than one type of seizure, or their seizures may not fit clearly into the types described on this page. But even if someone's seizures are unique, they usually follow the same pattern each time they happen. Not all seizures involve jerking or shaking movements. About 15 to 35 percent of children with intellectual disabilities also have epilepsy. Often, they stem from the same cause.

Some people experience a change in behavior in the minutes or hours before a seizure. This could be related to abnormal brain activity preceding a seizure, and may include:. Children with epilepsy may experience uncertainty in their lives. The prospect of a sudden seizure in front of friends and classmates can be stressful. These feelings can cause a child to act out or withdraw from social situations. Most children learn to adjust over time.

For others, social dysfunction can continue into adulthood. Between 30 to 70 percent of people with epilepsy also have depression, anxiety, or both. Antiseizure medications can also have an effect on behavior. Switching or making adjustments to medication may help. Behavioral problems should be addressed during doctor visits. Treatment will depend on the nature of the problem.

You might also benefit from individual therapy, family therapy, or joining a support group to help you cope.

Because you never know when a seizure will occur, many everyday activities like crossing a busy street, can become dangerous. These problems can lead to loss of independence. In addition to regular doctor visits and following your treatment plan, here are some things you can do to cope:. Uncontrolled or prolonged seizures can lead to brain damage.

Epilepsy also raises the risk of sudden unexplained death. Two types of brain surgery can cut down on or eliminate seizures. One type, called resection, involves removing the part of the brain where seizures originate. When the area of the brain responsible for seizures is too vital or large to remove, the surgeon can perform a disconnection.

This involves interrupting the nerve pathway by making cuts in the brain. This keeps seizures from spreading to other parts of the brain. Recent research found that 81 percent of people with severe epilepsy were either completely or almost seizure-free six months after surgery. After 10 years, 72 percent were still completely or almost seizure-free.

Dozens of other avenues of research into the causes, treatment, and potential cures for epilepsy are ongoing. Learn more about the long-term outlook for people with epilepsy ».

Worldwide, 65 million people have epilepsy. That includes about 3 million people in the United States, where there are , new cases of epilepsy diagnosed each year. As many as genes may relate to epilepsy in some way. For most people, the risk of developing epilepsy before age 20 is about 1 percent. Having a parent with genetically linked epilepsy raises that risk to 2 to 5 percent. For people over age 35, a leading cause of epilepsy is stroke. Between 15 to 30 percent of children with intellectual disabilities have epilepsy.

Between 30 and 70 percent of people who have epilepsy also have depression, anxiety, or both. Sudden unexplained death affects about 1 percent of people with epilepsy. Between 60 and 70 percent of people with epilepsy respond satisfactorily to the first anti-epilepsy drug they try. About 50 percent can stop taking medications after two to five years without a seizure. Half of adults who try a modified Atkins diet have fewer seizures. Learn more facts and statistics about epilepsy ».

Natural treatments for epilepsy, such as herbs, biofeedback, and acupuncture, may complement traditional treatment options.