Epilepsy –  It’s symptoms, risk factors treatment and management 

Introduction :What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is not a communicable disease of the brain.It’s a disorder in which the brain cell activity is likely disturbed.This leads to the occurrence of Seizure.Seizure is an uncontrolled aggressive jerking of the body.Person loses consciousness or stares blankly.Epilepsy may be genetic,or happen due to brain injury or brain tumor.

Cause of epilepsy:

Studies show people suffering from epilepsy have a history of family psychiatric disorders. Mental trauma related to childhood or something unusual happened in their past. Anxiety and depression is also one of the causes of epilepsy.

What triggers Seizure?

There are various factors that trigger Seizure most common are-

• People suffering from Insomnia
• mental health problems
• stress
• fever
• alcohol consumption
• drugs

Symptoms related to epilepsy

• Focal seizure -this seizure occurs on one side of the brain.It may happen in one area too.
• Generalized seizure -first  they occur on some particular point within the brain.Then spread on both the lobes(sides )of the brain .
• Seizure cluster – many seizures occurring in a very small period of time.Without any recovery between the episodes of seizure attack.

Diagnosis:

Recording of Patients family history.Recording history of type of Seizure and frequency of the Seizure attack

Test – electroencephalogram(Ecg),neuroimaging,genetic testing.

Medication – anti seizure drugs,therapies,epilepsy surgery

How to prevent epilepsy?

There is no prevention of epilepsy as it can be genetic.Considering a few precautions may help.Such as infant vaccination against measles and meningitis ( disease of infection affecting brain and neurons).Proper sanitation, hygiene and food consumption.Patients with cardiovascular diseases ( heart disease) should look after their health and take proper treatment.

 First aid should to help recover patient in emergency 

• One should stay calm and help the patient.
• Removing all the hazardous objects away from the patient. Remove furniture and sharp objects so that he is safe from any accident.
• Lay down the patient and put something soft under his head to be safe from head injury.
• Put the body in such a position so that the airways are not blocked.
• Do not put anything such as water or medicine in his mouth during seizure. It may block his airway and it may choke.
• Call for emergency if the attack is for more than 5 minutes.

Conclusion

Surrounding the Patients with epilepsy so that in emergency first aid  is their first consideration.They should take advice from a doctor before taking any medicine.Try to keep calm and do things which make them happy.