One percent of the population - two million people - in the United States has Epilepsy. Every year over 125,000 new cases are reported one third of which are children (Carson 7). U.S. doctors have found at least twenty different types of seizures to be in existence (Carson 11). Even though there are many ways to diagnose and treat Epilepsy, there is not a current cure.
Neurologist John Demster of Vancouver, Washington, said, “Epilepsy is defined as more than two unprovoked, recurrent seizures. Seizures are the result of abnormal surges in electrical signals inside the brain. Typically, the trillion neurons in the brain fire chaotically. When neurons become abnormally active, they fire rhythmically, causing the seizure (“Local Epilepsy…” 1).”
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Magnetoencephalography is widely used for pre-surgical evaluation. It is an amazing source for detecting and localizing interictal epileptiform discharges (“Reports from Epilepsy Center…” 1). The researchers created a method for patients to use in their everyday lives called an MEG. The results from the MEG were compared to those of the EEG after sleep deprivation. The researchers soon found that a routine MEG produced a gain in diagnoses of 63% when put up against final clinical diagnoses. However, an MEG is less of a hassle for the patient and the hospital, and has no ties with the risk of an increased frequency in seizures. The repetitive MEG with pictorial assessment only is a dependable indicative tool in the routine diagnoses of Epilepsy and may replace or even precede an EEG after sleep withdrawal in daily clinical practice. Additionally, a MEG put with a MRI allows magnetic source imaging and might offer further information on the cortical whereabouts of the Epilepsy in that patient. However, the MEG has not been examined as a first rate study for the diagnoses of Epilepsy (“Reports from Epilepsy…”
Partial seizures occur when a strong surge of electrical activity affects only a specific area of one cerebral hemisphere. This kind of seizure is subdivided into two categories: Simple Partial Seizures and Complex Seizures. In a simple partial seizure, the effected person will still be conscious and his/her awareness will be retained. In a Complex Partial Seizure however, the subjects’ consciousness is impaired and in some cases maybe even lost. Even though Partial Seizures are mild, they may progress to a much more severe seizure. More people suffer from partial seizures than any other kind. Literally any kind of sensory, movement or emotional action can be altered, including intricate optical hallucinations. Typically in a Simple Partial Seizure, the episode of sudden jerking, sensory phenomena, and transient lethargy would only last half to a full minute. In a Complex Partial, the episode may last up to two full minutes and no less than one. Also in a Complex Partial, the affected may be unaware of setting (surrounding environment), amnesia and confusion may occur and may begin to wander about. Although Partial Seizures affect different emoti...
Epilepsy, also known as “seizure disorder,” or “seizure attack,” is the fourth most common neurological disorder known to mankind, affecting an estimated 2.3 million adults and 467,711 children in the United States. Unfortunately this disorder is becoming far more common and widespread worldwide. This staggering number of cases of people suffering from Epilepsy also involves an average growth rate of 150,000 new cases each year in the United States alone. Generally, many of the people who develop who are a part of the new are mainly either young children or older adults. Your brain communicates through chemical and electrical signals that are all specialized for specific tasks. However, through the process of communication, chemical messengers, also known as neurotransmitters can suddenly fail, resulting in what is known as a seizure attack. Epilepsy occurs when a few too many brain cells become excited, or activated simultaneously, so that the brain cannot function properly and to it’s highest potential. Epilepsy is characterized when there is an abnormal imbalance in the chemical activity of the brain, leading to a disruption in the electrical activity of the brain. This disruption specifically occurs in the central nervous system (CNS), which is the part of the nervous system that contains the brain and spinal cord. This causes an interruption in communication between presynaptic neurons and postsynaptic neurons; between the axon of one neuron, the message sender and the dendrite of another neuron, the message recipient. Consequently, the effects that epileptic seizures may induce may range anywhere from mild to severe, life-threatening ramifications and complications. There are many different types of seizures associa...
Studies have shown that 9 out of 10 people will have a seizure in their lifetime. Every person is different not every case is the same. There is no known cure for this disability. There are studies that are going on today that are trying to find out more about Epilepsy.
Dementia patients must have the right to participate in all decisions concerning their care. Every person in this world has the same equal rights, no matter the situation. Doctors, caregivers, nurses, and even family members brush off the request of the person suffering from dementia each and every day. Most people call this carelessness while others call it freedom and in all reality, it is far from freedom. Luckily, there are many people who fight for the freedom everyone deserves. The majority of "Health professionals are usually keen to keep people with dementia at the center of decisions. Independent advocacy can support this by giving the extra time and skills needed to help people have a voice without the tensions of any other role"
Many people with epilepsy usually have more than one type of seizure and may have other symptoms of neurological problems as well. The cause of epilepsy varies by age of the person, but the majority of the time the cause is unknown. Common causes of seizures by age in Elizabeth Otte’s case would be congenital conditions (Down’s syndrome; Angelman's syndrome; tuberous sclerosis and neurofibromatosis), genetics, head trauma, and progressive brain disease which is rare (Schechter & Shafer, Ltd., 2013, p.1). The diagnosis of epilepsy is based on medical history of the patients including family history of seizures. They ask several of questions to figure of what type of seizures the patients could possibly be suffering from. Doctors then preform test such as EEG, take blood, and study images of your brain. Epilepsy is treated by a neurologist specialist that may or may not subscribe medication depending on the severity and frequency of the seizures. Also treatment can be a change in the patients’ diet or
Later, the doctors told me I had epilepsy, specifically the type known as grand mal. Immediately, the doctors put me on some medications to prevent the seizures. They also gave my parents a bunch of packets of information about epilepsy. When I got older, some of those packets informed me that 20-25 million people have suffered from an epileptic seizure. Many people grow out of childhood epilepsy or they take medicine to control it. However, there is still a risk of having a seizure even if you take medication. Over the past few years, I have become increasingly aware of the chance of a seizure at any time.
Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures which are unprovoked by any immediately identifiable cause (Hopkins & Shorvon, 1995). It is also known as a seizure disorder. A wide range of links and risk factors are associated with the condition, but most of the time the cause is unknown. Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting approximately two and half million people in the US and about 50 million worldwide. Though seizures can occur at any age, epilepsy is most commonly seen in children and the elderly. Most respond well to treatment and can control their seizures, but for some it is a chronic illness. A clinical diagnosis is the first step to finding a potential cure for the disorder.
Pediatric epilepsy is an overarching diagnosis that encompasses several types of seizures, and children with epilepsy may experience a specific singular type or multiple types of seizures. Children with congenital brain malformations, a family history of epilepsy, or neonatal seizures are at a higher risk for developing epilepsy. Approximately a quarter of children who exhibit recurring seizures, with the exception of neonatal seizures and infantile spasms, during their first year of ...
An epileptic seizure is a brief episode of signs and/or symptoms due to abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain also know as brain discharge. Photosensitive epilepsy is the name for seizures triggered by information processed by the eyes. This is when seizures are triggered by certain rates of flashing lights or contrasting light or dark patterns. This information all passes through the eye into a part of the brain called the visual cortex. The visual cortex then sorts out the images received by the eye In photosensitive epilepsy, genetics plays an enormous role. About one in one-hundred people in the U.S. have epilepsy. About 3% to 5% of those people have photosensitive epilepsy. Children and adolescents ages 7 to 19 are more likely to have photosensitive epilepsy. The common rates at which can trigger triggers seizures are from 3-30 hertz (flashes per seconds), but it all depends on the individual’s tolerance. While some people are sensitive at up to 60
Traditional medicine believed that epilepsy came from the gods. Due to the persons lack of knowledge and morals. However, Hippocrates refutes this theory because the magic, purifying techniques and prayer would cure this disease. He also, makes the point that the brain is the main organ that makes your body fuction and this disease has something to do with how a human brain functions. Which is correct elipesey does deal with the brain and the neruons which send messages to the body.
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a non invasive technique for studing neuronal activity in the brain. Unlike electrophysiological methods that depend on volume currents, MEG depends on the primary current (2, 8).
Do you know what the most commonly used drug around the world is? It’s not cocaine nor marijuana, but surprisingly caffeine.
Mental Illness is one of the growing illness in United States. According to National Alliance of Mental Illness”1 in 5 adults experiences a mental health condition every year. 1 in 20 lives with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.” If the person has a five family member, one of them could be diagnosed with mental illness. If there is 40 students in class room at least two of them could be living with serious mental illness. Although mental illness is something that familiar to us, there is still misunderstood and stigma towards mental illness. Then why many people still have a wrong knowledge and attitude toward mental illness?
Drug abuse has been a hot topic for our society due to how stimulants interfere with health, prosperity, and the lives of others in all nations. All drugs have the potential to be misapplied, whether obtained by prescription, over the counter, or illegally. Drug abuse is a despicable disease that affects many helpless people. Majority of those who are beset with this disease go untreated due to health insurance companies who neglect and discriminate this issue. As an outcome of missed opportunities of treatments, abusers become homeless, very ill, or even worst, death.
It is deeply alarming that ignoring mental health is systematically ignored as an important part of health promotion. This is shocking because, in theory, mental health is recognized as an important component of health, the close link between physical and mental health is recognized, and it is generally known that physical and mental health share many of the same social, environmental and economic components. We know that facilities dedicated to those with mental health problems are more vulnerable to the resources of physical diseases in many parts of the world, and it is essential that mental health promotion should not be equally affected