EPILEPSY INTRODUCTION Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent and uncertain intrusions of normal brain function, called epileptic seizure (Fisher et al., 2005). The word epilepsy was derived from the Greek word “attack”. The primitive Greeks thought epilepsy was contagious, and hence people with epilepsy used to live alone (Dam, 2003). It is one of the oldest conditions known to humankind (WHO, 2001a) and still the most common neurological condition affecting individuals of all ages. At any given time, it is appraise that 50 million individuals worldwide have a detection of epilepsy (WHO, 2001b). Epilepsy is charaterised by the incident of at least two unprovoked events of recurrent disruption in neurological function. Epilepsy is not a single prognosis but is a symptom with many fundamental causes. (Nunes et al., 2012). Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the most common cause of death directly related to epilepsy, and most commonly occurs in people with chronic epilepsy (Surges, 2009). Information provided to people with epilepsy should take account of the small but precise risk of SUDEP.[3] SUDEP seems to occur more commonly during sleep and more often affects young adults with medically uncontrollable epilepsy (especially tonic-clonic seizures), those with neurological comorbidity, and patients receiving antiepileptic drug polytherapy.[7] The risk of SUDEP can be diminshed by optimizing seizure control and being aware of the potential consequences of nocturnal seizures.[3] According to the casual morphology, epilepsy can be divided into 3 categories: idiopathic, acquired (symptomatic) and cryptogenic (presumed symptomatic) (Engel, 2001; Loscher and Brandt, 2010). Idiopathic epilepsy is epileps... ... middle of paper ... ...o be 9.99 in 1,000 population. In rural areas of Pakistan the load of epilepsy is twice of what is perceived in urban areas (14.8/1000 Vs 7.4/1000) (Aziz et al, 1994). Prevalence of epilepsy in childhood assorted from 15.5 to 23 per 1000 children. Epilepsy was diagnosed in 9% of the attendees of the faith healers. (Drukin et al, 1992). The aim of a literature review is to: • Establish a theoretical framework for epilepsy and its relation to deafness • Define key terms, definitions and terminology • Identify studies, models, case studies supporting epilepsy and its relation to deafness. • To gather information at one place to facilitate researchers to look into the basics and advance technologies in this area of science at one platform. • To emphasize the prevalence of Epilepsy in Pakistan to find ways to escape from this disease and to aware people about epilepsy.
In “The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down” by Anne Fadiman, the whole story revolves around Lia, the thirteenth child of Lee family. Lee family was a refugee family in USA and Lia was their first child to be born in US. At the time of time of birth, she was declared as a healthy child but at the age of three it was founded that she is suffering from epilepsy. In the words of western or scientific world the term epilepsy mean mental disorder of a person and in Hmong culture, epilepsy is referred to as qaug dab peg (translated in English, "the spirit catches you and you fall down"), in which epileptic attacks are perceived as evidence of the epileptic's ability to enter and journey momentarily into the spirit realm (Wikipedia, 2014)
Ramachandran and his team concluded that although the patients were not experiencing seizures or experiencing supernatural occurrences at the time of testing, they were highly sensitive to religious words. Thus, the experiences of temporal lobe seizures strengthened the patients interest in religion (11).
Epilepsy is a serious global problem that affects approximately 1% of people worldwide (1). Epilepsy is a chronic condition of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by epileptic seizures, which can affect physical and mental functions (2). Epileptic seizures are unprovoked reoccurring episodes of abnormal, excessive, or hypersynchronis neuronal activity in the CNS (2). The treatment options of epilepsy include medications called antiepileptic drugs (AED) and surgeries based on individuals’ specific diagnosis and background (1). The AED Keppra®, S-enantiomer of α-ethyl-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide, or Levetiracetam (LEV) is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for the treatment and prevention of epileptic seizures (3).
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the brain causing people to have seizures. A seizure is a big disruption of electrical communication between neurons, leading to the temporary release of excessive energy in a synchronized form Epilepsy is very unpredictable. Having a seizure disorder doesn't mean that you can only have one type of seizure. People can have many different types of seizures; it can vary on the person. In some cases depending on the type of seizures someone may have they can grow out of them. (“Epilepsy Foundation." What Is Epilepsy? N.p., n.d. Web. 09 May 2014.)
First off, it is important to understand what a seizure is. A seizure is caused by abnormal discharge of electric stimulation in the brain. They may also be caused by salt imbalances in the blood, gastrointestinal disease, poisoning, head injury, brain disease such as a tumor, a malformed blood vessel, or anything that causes sudden lack of oxygen to the brain.((1).) Seizures are also grouped into different categories depending on how severe they are and also depending on which part of the brain is effected. For example, if the entire brain is involved it is a generalized seizure as opposed to if only a portion of the brain is effected and in that case the seizure is a partial seizure. ((2).) There are two types of partial seizures, simple partial and complex partial. There are also two types of generalized seizures, generalized absence (petit mal) and tonic-clonic (grand mal). The seizures that my sister has are tonic-clonic or grand mal, which are considered the most severe type of seizure to have. With a tonic-clonic seizure, there are two phases. In the tonic phase, the person loses consciousness and falls, as the body grows rigid. In the clonic phase, body extremities jerk and twitch. After the seizure, consciousness returns slowly. ((2).)
It is known that patients with a past history of epilepsy often refuse transportation or further care, as these patients usually regain consciousness and have no signs of injury.
In the Hmong religion everything was nature-based. On the other hand, Western medicine revolves around science. Doctors look and are taught to look at science as the “the truth that could be proven.” Westerners usually confine themselves to medications and surgery during sickness. These are two extremely opposite point of views on how a patient should or can be healed. Western Doctors would treat epilepsy by drug therapy. They would prescribe the patient with the appropriate dosages of anti-convulsant drugs. Another option could be surgery but most patients do not require this procedure. The surgery is performed to treat partial activity, which involves only treating certain areas of the brain. One could see how spiritual culture and science could contradict in this
A seizure is a short occurrence of symptoms that is caused by a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Customarily, a seizure lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes. There are different types of seizures not just one. Depending on which part and how much of the brain is affected by the electrical disturbance will determine which type of seizure will occur. Experts divide seizures into five generalized seizures, these include: partial seizures, epileptic/non-epileptic seizures, status epilepticus, gelastic seizures and dacrystic seizures.
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...
Ayurveda, is the oldest ancient medical system of India, also known as the "science of life.” Epilepsy is defined as Apasmara and the prefix means negation or loss of and Smara, means consciousness or memory. Aura was recognized and was called Apasmara Poorva Roopa. Charaka lists some symptoms such as seeing nonexistent
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.
at a rate of up to four times higher than normal. This causes a sort
Around 50 million people in this world have to deal with epilepsy everyday. That is not always easy and, besides that, not everything is known about it yet. There are several types of epilepsy, but what is the difference between them and what are they called? My sister has reflex epilepsy, and that is exactly why I have chosen this subject. I was really curious about what happens in her brains during an epileptic attack. Next to that, I know what I should do when my sister has an epileptic attack, but as I already mentioned, there are many different kinds of insults. Therefore there are several ways to recognise them, but what are those? Additionally, there are various ways how you can help someone with an insult, but what are those ways? Before I am going to answer all these questions, I am going to tell you something about epilepsy in general first.
According to the book Explaining Epilepsy, “Over three million Americans are affected by epilepsy (Bender 8).” Epilepsy is a condition when a person has two or more seizures that were not the result of an obvious cause, such as heart problems and low blood pressure. (Comprehensive Epilepsy Center). Epilepsy can be diagnosed in people of all ages, but is most common in children and the elderly. A person with epilepsy is in danger at all times because he or she never knows when an epileptic attack will occur. Epilepsy is a condition that negatively impacts an individual’s life through unpredictable seizures. In spite of unpredictable seizures people who suffer from this condition are able to live a fairly normal life, with the help of medicine and treatments.