Overview

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterised by recurrent, unpredictable seizures and brief disturbances in brain function. These seizures can vary in type and severity, affecting a person's consciousness, movement, or sensation. Epilepsy can be managed with medications, lifestyle modifications, or, in some cases, surgery to reduce the frequency and impact of seizures.

It is a mental disorder in which the individual faces multiple seizures quickly. The individual cannot focus on things and may suffer from mental issues. Symptoms of the disease depend on which part of the brain is affected due to a misbalance of electrical signals in the brain. However, common symptoms of epilepsy involve different types of mental disorders and jerking of hands and legs.

The disorder is irrelevant to the age, gender, or race of an individual. People of any age group can be affected by epilepsy. The seizures that occur due to the disorder cannot be entirely healed with the help of medications but can be managed well, allowing the patient to live a routine life to some extent. The disorder can be cured using drugs, therapies, or surgery. Different forms or combinations of treatment may be involved depending upon the type of seizures.

Types of Seizures

There are different types of seizures depending upon the electrical signals affecting the part of the brain. Mentioned below are a few types:

- Generalised Seizures- These are further divided into absence seizures, tonic seizures, atonic seizures, clonic seizures, myoclonic seizures, and tonic-clonic seizures.
- Focal Seizures are further divided into frontal lobe seizures, temporal lobe seizures, and occipital lobe seizures.

Causes of Seizures

Mentioned below are a few reasons that lead to epilepsy seizures:

- Genetic Influence
- Head Injury
- Brain Tumors
- Infections
- Injury before Birth

Common Symptoms of Epilepsy

- Temporary Confusion- Temporary confusion in adults or kids is one of the common symptoms of epilepsy. It happens due to an imbalance of electrical signals in the brain, affecting a specific part of the brain. The medical condition causes different mental issues, making it difficult for the affected individual to have a social or professional life.
- Staring Spell- Also known as absence epilepsy, staring spell is another disorder symptom. The affected individual goes blank for a few seconds and constantly stares at a point. Epilepsy is usually found in children and may obstruct their learning and academic years. The state of seizure doesn't last long, for many years and is a less damaging one.
- Jerking of Hands and Legs- It is also a common symptom of the mental disorder. It happens due to electrical signals in the brain leading to the contraction of muscles. The affected individual cannot move their arms and legs freely when the seizure episode happens. The individual can also not get relieved of it while trying to free the muscles. The condition is medically termed myoclonic epilepsy. Anti-seizure medications, changes in diet, getting enough sleep, and avoiding flickering lights that can trigger the seizure are some of the remedies that can help lower the symptoms of the seizure.
- Loss of Awareness- An individual facing seizures may also lose awareness of things and incidences around them. It is a symptom of Focal Impaired Awareness Seizures. It is one of the types of seizures as well. The seizure occurs due to a massive part of the brain getting affected by the disorder.
- Fear or Anxiety- An individual suffering from Non-Epileptic Seizures may experience fear or anxiety. The individual may fear from the knowledge of the fact that a seizure attack can be experienced at any time. It hampers the social and professional life of the patient majorly. People may also suddenly experience joy, anxiety, or deja vu. These symptoms are usually observed in people who have to cope with much stress and sometimes cannot manage.
- Loss of Consciousness: During certain seizure types, individuals may lose consciousness, varying in duration and severity.
- Staring Spells: Absence seizures may cause brief episodes of staring without responsiveness.

When to Consult a Doctor

Timely medical intervention can help cure many of these ailments or help in managing them. You can also get in touch with the expert Neurology doctors at Narayana Healthcare based in your city to get immediate attention and medical support to treat brain conditions, neurological disorders or any other health concern.

Conclusion

Common symptoms of epilepsy help to identify the disorder at the right time and allow one to begin the medication to avoid deterioration of the symptoms. Mental illness happens due to a spark of electrical signal in the brain and damages a particular portion of the brain.

Reference Links

- https://www.narayanahealth.org/blog/epilepsy-types-causes-symptoms-and-treatment-options/
- https://www.childrensdmc.org/parents/patient-and-family-resources/patient-and-family-resources/epilepsy-signs-and-symptoms
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/epilepsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20350093