What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that leads individuals to undergo sudden, unanticipated seizures. It is a chronic, noncommunicable disease affecting different brain parts. Seizures can cause involuntary body movement that may be mild or severe. As a result, epilepsy is also known as seizure disorder.
A seizure occurs when excessive electrical discharges occur in a group of brain cells. The duration of a seizure may be brief or last for prolonged periods with violent convulsions. Moreover, the frequency of seizures also differs depending on its impact on an individual. An affected individual may have a few seizures during a year or several in a single day.
Who are epileptologists?
A general physician or a neurologist can diagnose epilepsy. However, there are a few cases where a specialized person is required. Accordingly, patients visit epileptologists and neurologists specializing in treating epilepsy. They are professionals who have completed an additional year or two of training in a subspecialty under neurology.
Epileptologists use different methods, such as the following, to diagnose epilepsies:
- Neurological exams: They help study the brain's different areas responsible for mental, motor, and behavior to find abnormalities.
- Blood tests: It helps find genetic information to provide clues about the patient's condition. Typically, doctors use it to diagnose epilepsy in children.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) - It is the most common test performed by epileptologists, where they attach electrodes to the scalp of the patients. They use it to identify changes in the typical pattern of brain waves by recording electrical activity.
What are the symptoms and causes of epilepsy?
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, at least one million people have uncontrolled epilepsy. Many researchers have tried to find out the exact cause of epilepsy, which ranges from genetic, structural, infectious, immune, and metabolic reasons. However, some reasons are yet unknown.
Some of the common causes of epilepsy include the following:
- Prenatal or perinatal causes such as brain damage suffered from trauma, loss of oxygen, or a low birth weight
- Brain malformations related to genetic conditions or other congenital anomalies
- Blunt force trauma or severe injuries to the head
- Brain tumor
- Infections caused on the brain, such as neurocysticercosis, encephalitis, and meningitis
- Specific genetic syndromes
- Strokes that can restrict oxygen to the brain
People who suffer seizures from epilepsy feel the following symptoms:
- Loss of consciousness or lack of awareness
- Confusion
- Uncontrollable spasms and movement of arms and legs
- Staring blankly
- Muscles getting stiff
- Loss of senses such as cognitive functions, vision, hearing, or other sensations
- Loss of sleep
- Memory issues
- Physical problems such as injuries or fractures due to seizures
- Psychological problems such as depression or anxiety
Epileptic people are often at high risk of accidental deaths due to car accidents, prolonged seizures, falling, or drowning. Moreover, they get triggered due to different factors such as:
- Illness with or without fever
- Flashing bright lights with or without patterns
- Alcohol or drug usage, including withdrawal phases
- Sleep deprivation
- Specific times during the day or night
- Stress or other mental pressure
- Particular medications or forgetting to take them
- Menstrual cycle
Generally, most epileptic patients get treated at the primary health care level. Some treatment options include medications and therapies to stimulate the brain. However, surgeries are a last resort in some instances.
When should you see an epileptologist?
You should see an epileptologist when the current medications and treatment plans cannot control the seizures. It is also always better to get a second opinion from a specialist if your condition has not improved.
Here are a few other reasons why you should consider seeing an epilepsy doctor:
- Seizures are still not under control after initial diagnosis and treatment
- The frequency or duration of seizure lasts longer than before
- Unable to control seizures even after trying different medications
- If you have medical conditions that can be affected by epilepsy, such as diabetes
- If you're pregnant or looking forward to conceiving
How do you find epilepsy doctors near you?
Dealing with seizures that are difficult to control is an important task. It threatens one's life as they can be triggered anytime during daily activities. In such cases, it is essential to find the right epilepsy doctors to help manage your condition. They can perform additional tests to prepare effective treatment and preventive strategies to help you live a healthy life.
How to find the right epileptologist in the nation? Rely on Zocdoc! You can access a comprehensive directory of qualified professionals to match your requirements here. You can use filters such as location, insurance plan, and preferred appointment date. Moreover, you can review each doctor's profile to read their reviews and judge the right specialist suited for you.
All the doctors listed on Zocdoc have the credentials and experience to help you make an informed decision. Furthermore, you can narrow the search results to find epilepsy doctors near you to save the trouble of traveling far. With Zocdoc, you can easily book appointments online without any hassle.
All bookings on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and free!
Statistics for epilepsy and seizures
Zack MM and Kobau R. presented a report under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015, stating that around 1.2 million people had active epilepsy in the country. The Epilepsy Foundation has found that anyone can have epilepsy. It says that the first seizures experienced by people over 65 are nearly the same as those experienced by children. However, seizures in senior citizens occur due to other health conditions such as heart disease and strokes.
The same report states that at least one in 26 people will develop epilepsy throughout their lifetime. Similarly, a report published by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says that children have a 5% risk of developing epilepsy if their parents have the medical condition. According to PubMed Central, people with epilepsy have a 15-19 times higher chance of drowning than unaffected individuals. It is because seizures can occur when they're in a pool, lake, or bathtub. According to the same report, their risk of deteriorating mental health is another concerning factor.
Sources
World Health Organization
Mayo Clinic [1]
Mayo Clinic [2]
Duke Health
Epilepsy Foundation [1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Epilepsy Foundation [2]
Healthline
