Epilepsy Specialist

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a condition in which seizures occur due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Across the United States, around 3.4 million people live with epilepsy.

During a seizure, you might lose awareness of your environment or suffer a temporary loss of consciousness. You could also experience:

• Jerking movements
• Stiffness
• Disturbances in your vision, hearing, and taste
• Loss of muscle tone
• Changes in heart rate
• Changes in breathing pattern
• Pale skin
• Blank stare
• Problems talking or understanding

There are different kinds of seizures that you might have with epilepsy. A primary generalized seizure typically starts with a broad electrical discharge affecting both sides of your brain, whereas a focal seizure involves electrical discharges in a specific area of your brain.

An unknown onset seizure is one where it isn't clear whether the trigger is generalized or focal.

What causes epilepsy?

Numerous conditions can trigger epilepsy, including:

• Stroke or transient ischemic attacks
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Infections such as meningitis, encephalitis, and AIDS
• Developmental and metabolic disorders
• Brain tumors
• Abnormal blood vessels in the brain
• Genetic abnormalities

What's still not completely clear and is, therefore, the subject of ongoing research, is how these conditions affect the brain and cause seizures.

How is epilepsy diagnosed?

Not all seizures are related to epilepsy. You could have a seizure as a result of various triggers, from having low blood sugar to undergoing withdrawal from an addictive substance.

The JKC Neurology Medical Group team might diagnose epilepsy if you have two or more seizures that aren't due to one of these provoking factors. To evaluate your brain function, they perform an electroencephalogram (EEG), which records the electrical activity in your brain.

You might also need a brain scan. JKC Neurology Medical Group has state-of-the-art computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scanners on-site to perform your brain scan.

How is epilepsy treated?

The JKC Neurology Medical Group team can prescribe anti-seizure medication to help control your epilepsy. Finding the right drug and dose can sometimes take a while, as every patient responds differently to these types of medications.

A special diet can also be effective for some patients. It provides an alternative treatment for those who experience serious side effects from anti-seizure medication or for whom drugs aren't proving effective.

For some patients, surgery might be necessary to remove or modify the area of your brain where your seizures originate. Surgery for epilepsy is more successful in treating focal seizures than generalized seizures.

To find out more about treating epilepsy, call JKC Neurology Medical Group today or book an appointment online.