The Essential Overview Of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a medical condition that affects the central nervous system, wherein the patients suffer from recurrent seizures. The cause of epilepsy is known to be the result of abnormal electrical activity within the brain leading to seizures.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, it is the fourth most common neurological disease that affects all ages. There are approximately 3.4 million patients diagnosed with epilepsy in the United States alone, with one in twenty-six Americans developing it at some point in their lives.

Signs And Symptoms Of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder resulting from abnormal brain activity that can cause bouts of seizures, unusual behavior, and sometimes loss of awareness. The seizure symptoms and severity varies on a case to case basis. However, some of the common signs and symptoms of seizures include temporary confusion, loss of consciousness or awareness, fear, anxiety, deja vu, and uncontrollable movements.

Although the symptoms and severity may differ from patient to patient, they tend to have the same or similar types of seizures. Continue reading to learn about the different types of seizures epilepsy can cause.

The Different Types Of Seizures

Epilepsy may cause three different kinds of seizures: generalized, partial or focal, and absence or petit mal. A generalized seizure affects all areas of the brain. A patient with generalized seizures will stiffen for a few moments and then have rhythmic movements of their limbs; their eyes may remain open, they may be confused, lose urine, and may appear as if they are not breathing while they experience the seizure.

Partial or focal seizures affect just one part of the brain, which therefore means they only affect part of the body. Finally, absence or petit mal seizures are common in childhood and tend to last just a few seconds. Absence seizures cause consciousness impairment, and repetitive blinking or small movements.

Now that you know the different kinds of seizures, keep reading to discover what the causes and risk factors are for epilepsy.