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If you’re like most people, you probably know little about epilepsy.
Popular movies and dramas have made it seem like a mysterious but common illness.
In fact, epilepsy is the third most common neurological disorder after Alzheimer’s and stroke. Epilepsy is a condition that affects the brain, and it can cause a number of different symptoms. It can cause convulsions (seizures) or changes in behavior.
These symptoms often change during the course of a day, and they may last for a few seconds to more than half an hour. If you’re concerned that you or a loved one might have epilepsy, read on to learn about some of the most common epilepsy triggers.
What is Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes seizures in a person. Seizures can be mild or severe and may occur anywhere in the brain, including the amygdala, hypothalamus, and brainstem.
Some people with epilepsy experience hallucinations, mood swings, and cognitive impairments. Epilepsy can be treated with medication and/or surgery. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetics, head trauma, and infections.
Most people with epilepsy find that their seizures can be controlled with medication and/or surgery. However, about one percent of people with epilepsy experience severe seizures that are not controlled by medication or surgery. These people may need lifelong care or treatment to help them live a normal life.
Epilepsy can be diagnosed in children as young as two months old, but most cases are not diagnosed until the child is six or seven years old. It can range in severity from barely noticeable to life-threatening. There is no known cure for epilepsy, but there are treatments available that can help control the seizures.
Treatment typically includes medication and/or surgery to remove the source of the seizures. Some people with epilepsy also require special education and support to live a normal life.
Types of Epilepsy
Epilepsy can be classified into two main types: primary and secondary.
Primary epilepsy is a rare, inherited form of epilepsy that affects mainly the young.
It is also called infantile-onset epilepsy.
Primary epilepsy usually affects people between the ages of one and five years old, although it can occur at any age. It accounts for about 5% of all cases of epilepsy.
People with primary epilepsy have seizures that usually start during infancy or early childhood. These seizures tend to be more frequent and severe than those in people with other types of epilepsies.
Although there are many epilepsy new treatment around the world, the cause of primary epilepsy is unknown. Many stipulate that it may be related to a genetic disorder or to a problem with brain development. They are usually controlled by medications and surgery, but they can also be stopped by stopping the cause of the seizures.
If left uncontrolled, primary seizures can lead to mental retardation or even death. There is no cure for primary epilepsy, but it can be treated effectively with medications and surgery.
Secondary epilepsy refers to people who have multiple seizures (or epilepsy episodes) over the course of their lifetime.
Secondary epilepsy is a term used to describe people who have epilepsy that has not been caused by any known genetic or environmental factors.
It is often referred to as “epilepsy of unknown cause.” Secondary epilepsy can occur at any point during a person’s life and can range in severity. Symptoms of secondary epilepsy can include recurring seizures that are not related to an individual’s prior seizures or conditions, as well as new seizures that are not part of the person’s normal seizure pattern.
Secondary epilepsy can also cause problems with concentration, memory, and daily activities. There is currently no cure for secondary epilepsy, but there are treatments that can help reduce the symptoms and improve the quality of life for patients. Treatment options typically include medication, surgery, and cognitive therapy.
Common Epilepsy Triggers
There isn’t a definitive answer to this question, as epilepsy can be triggered by a variety of things. However, some of the more common triggers include:
1. Stress
Extreme stress can definitely lead to an increase in epileptic seizures. Physical, emotional and physiological pain is one focus for increasing the possibility of an epileptic seizure episode to happen. Examples include headaches, insomnia or heart attacks which lead to a cluster of epileptic seizures in a person within 5 minutes time. A busy work schedule, multiple sclerosis, mental illness and problems of stress are also common triggers for an epileptic seizure.
2. Diet
Some people with epilepsy find that certain foods (particularly acidic foods) can trigger seizures. This means, for many patients with epilepsy, it is important that they slow their intake of food such as fruit and acid foods. The amount of certain foods should be decreased gradually to avoid seizures altogether.
3. Surgery
Some surgeries like those requiring general anesthesia can trigger epileptic seizures in the person who is undergoing an operation.
4. Sleep deprivation
A decrease in blood alcohol level can produce arrhythmia and a range of possible epileptic seizures as well as symptoms like excessive sleepiness. In some situations, people may experience unusual dreams when falling into deep sleep patterns due to tiredness or lack of sleep.
5. Low blood sugar
Low blood sugar can cause problems with balance and coordination and weakness in the arms, legs, and speech. This may then trigger various forms of seizures.
6. Excessive drinking
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can also lead to an increased risk of seizures.
7. Magnetic fields
Some people with epilepsy find that they are more prone to seizures when in close proximity to magnetic fields.
8. Car accidents
When a car accident occurs, the increased adrenaline can put some people into an epileptic seizure and cause trauma to their frontal lobe brain area. This is damaging to healthy neurons in this region. The neurons become too sensitive and affect a person’s consciousness if untreated or if the seizures recur.
Conclusion
Epilepsy is a disorder of the brain that can cause seizures.
While most people have no idea what triggers seizures in somebody with epilepsy, there are some things you should be very careful about. In this article, we outlined some common epilepsy triggers so that you can take necessary precautions to avoid them. By being aware of the things that could set someone with epilepsy off, you can help ensure their safety and minimize their chances of having a seizure.