Epilepsy

Epilepsy is the medical term that refers a seizure disorder.  You or your loved ones may be familiar with this condition or you may just be finding out what it is all about.  Either way, once you enroll…Total Home Health will be by your side to provide you with the best care possible to ensure you are safe while caring for you in your comfortable home environment. 

Epilepsy is a neurological (brain) disorder that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spine).  This condition results in nerve cell activity in the brain becoming disrupted, which ends up causing the person affected to have a seizure episode.  Seizure episodes can vary widely…they can be dramatic with noticeable symptoms such as violent shaking, loss of control, and loss of consciousness…or there may be hardly any symptoms at all.  For example, some people with epilepsy may simply have a blank stare for a few seconds, while others may repeatedly twitch their arms or legs. 

If you have a single seizure that will not automatically classify you as having epilepsy.  Generally, in order to be diagnosed with epilepsy you must have at least two unprovoked seizures…meaning that there was nothing you were doing or anything you were consuming at the time that could have caused the seizures to occur.  Having epilepsy can be very dangerous and harmful to the safety of both you and those around you.  Even mild seizures may require treatment due to the risk they impose, because if you were to be doing an activity such as swimming or driving and were to begin to seize…that could be extremely dangerous and life-threatening.  While there is no absolute and complete cure, there are notable treatment options that can control epilepsy very well if you strictly abide by the regimens you are prescribed.

Seizures can affect any process that is coordinated by your brain because they are caused by abnormal activity that can occur anywhere within your brain cells.  Signs and symptoms of seizures may include:

 - Temporary confusion

-  Staring blankly

-  Uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs

-  Loss of consciousness or of awareness of surroundings

-  Psychological symptoms

Of course there are different types of seizures that an individual could possibly have, which makes the symptoms vary accordingly.  In the majority of cases though, a person with epilepsy will tend to have the same type of seizure each time…which will make the symptoms similar and easier to catch on to with each recurring episode.  When you bring your signs and symptoms to the attention of your provider, they will generally classify your seizure as focal or generalized, based on how the abnormal brain activity begins. 

Your provider or our professionals at Total Home Health would be more than happy to provide you with more information related to these specific types of seizures if you or your loved one suffers from them…please do not hesitate to ask.  Basically, the type you have (focal or generalized) will depend upon how many areas of the brain are involved when the abnormal activity is triggered.

The cause of epilepsy really is not identifiable in the majority of cases.  However, the condition could possibly be related to various factors such as genetics, experiencing head trauma, brain tumors, having a stroke, or having an infection such as meningitis.  Keep in mind that suffering from a stroke is a leading cause of epilepsy in adults older than age 35; while the onset of epilepsy can occur at any time, it is most common during the early childhood years or after age 60.  In addition, older adults with dementia will also be at an increased risk of developing epilepsy.

In order to correctly diagnose you with epilepsy, your provider will thoroughly review your symptoms and medical history and order several tests to determine the cause of your seizures.  A neurological exam will occur, along with various blood tests.  In addition you may go through various imaging studies to also see inside your brain, and these could include:

ü  Electroencephalogram (EEG)

§  Most common test used to diagnose epilepsy.

§  Electrodes will be attached to the scalp and will record the electrical activity of your brain.

§  Test may be done if you are either awake or asleep.

ü  Computerized tomography (CT) scan

§  Uses x-rays to obtain images of your brain.

§  Can reveal abnormalities in your brain that could be causing your seizures.

ü  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

§  Uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create a detailed view of your brain.

ü  Functional MRI (fMRI)

§  Measures changes in blood flow in your brain.

§  May be used before surgery to identify exact locations of critical functions such as speech and movement so surgeons can avoid injury to these areas.

ü  Positron emission tomography (PET)

§  Use a small amount of low-dose radioactive material injected into a vein to help visualize and detect areas of brain abnormality.

Treatment will be individualized from person to person and may include everything from non-pharmacological therapies to surgical procedures.  The best option for your specific case will be chosen by your healthcare team.  Total Home Health will be there for you upon your return home in order to ensure your safety by treating your symptoms and preventing possible factors that may trigger you to have a seizure.  Our health care professionals will always be ready for anything you throw at us.  For the best care in your home that is possible…don’t wait any longer and enroll today with Total Home Health and we’ll prove it!