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Epilepsy is currently defined as a tendency to have recurrent seizures, sometimes called fits. A seizure is caused by a sudden burst of excessive electrical activity in the brain, causing a temporary disruption in the normal messages passing between the brain cells. This disruption results in the brain's messages becoming halted or mixed up. The brain is responsible for all functions of the body. So what you experience during the seizure would depend on where in the brain the epileptic activity begins and how widely and rapidly it spreads. For this reason, there are many different types of seizure and each person will experience epilepsy in a way that is unique to them. Some facts about epilepsy. Epilepsy is a tendency to have recurrent seizures. There are around 40 different types of seizure and a person may have more than one type. Epilepsy can affect anyone, at any age, from any walk of life. 456,000, or one in every 131 people in the UK has epilepsy. Epilepsy is a neurological condition; only 52% of people with epilepsy in the UK are seizure-free. It is estimated that 70% of people could be seizure-free with the right treatment. One in 20 people have a single seizure at some point during their life. And many people develop epilepsy below the age of 20 will grow out of it in adult life. In the UK, people who have been seizure-free for a year can reapply for their driving licence. Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy is the explanation for around 500 deaths in the UK. The following gives a typical description of a seizure. A Tonic-clonic seizure is the most common type of generalized seizure. Your body becomes rigid due to strong muscular contractions, the tonic part. You lose consciousness and you fall. Your chest muscles contract and force air out of your mouth, often with a grunt. Your jaw muscles contract and you may bite your tongue. Saliva may escape from your mouth. This stiff or tonic phase soon passes into the clonic, shaking or convulsive phase. This is when the muscles repeatedly contract and relax. Your whole body appears to shake. This may last from a few seconds to a few minutes. When the seizure has stopped you gradually regain consciousness, but you may be confused and dazed for a while. The time taken to recover varies. You may have some soreness due to muscular contractions. You may have a headache and want to sleep after the seizure. You may have some warning of symptoms for a short while before the seizure. This is called an aura. The aura can take various forms, for example, odd movements, odd sensations, or intense emotions. However many people do not have auras and a seizure commonly occurs without any warning.
Epilepsy: Understanding Recurrent Seizures
Defining Epilepsy
Epilepsy is presently described as a propensity for recurrent seizures, which are triggered by sudden bursts of excessive electrical activity within the brain. This surge disrupts normal communication between brain cells, leading to interruptions or mix-ups in the brain's messaging.
The Impact of Seizures
The effects of a seizure are contingent on the origin and spread of epileptic activity in the brain. As the brain governs all bodily functions, the experience during a seizure varies depending on these factors, resulting in numerous seizure types. Seizures aren't exclusive to epilepsy; they can arise from diverse causes like head injuries, low blood glucose in diabetics, or alcohol poisoning.
Key Facts About Epilepsy
- Epilepsy: A tendency for recurrent seizures.
- Seizure Types: Approximately 40 different types exist, and individuals may experience more than one.
- Wide Impact: Affects people of all ages and backgrounds.
- UK Prevalence: 1 in 131 people (456,000 individuals).
- Treatment Potential: 70 percent could achieve seizure freedom with suitable treatment.
- Single Seizures: 1 in 20 people may have a single seizure during their life.
- Outgrowing Epilepsy: Many who develop epilepsy as children may "grow out of it" in adulthood.
- Driving License: In the UK, those seizure-free for a year can reapply for a driving license.
- SUDEP: Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy accounts for 500 UK deaths annually.
- Pregnancy: 2,500 women with epilepsy in the UK have a baby each year.
Understanding Seizures
Identifying a seizure involves observing key indicators:
- Sudden Loss of Responsiveness
- Rigid Body with Arched Back
- Noisy, Difficult Breathing
- Convulsions
- Possible Loss of Bladder Control
- Post-Seizure Deep Sleep
A typical description of a tonic-clonic seizure, the most common generalised seizure type:
- Tonic Phase: Involves body rigidity, loss of consciousness, and chest muscle contractions.
- Clonic Phase: Characterized by repetitive muscle contractions and body shaking.
Following a seizure, regaining consciousness may vary, accompanied by confusion and muscle soreness. Headaches and fatigue are common, prompting a desire to sleep.
Some individuals experience warning symptoms called auras before seizures, manifesting as peculiar movements, sensations, or intense emotions. However, seizures often occur without warning.