epilepsy by Erin Shelby

What are symptoms of Epilepsy?

66027 — 2015-12-10 16:12:16 UTC

Seizures are a big part of Epilepsy, they contribute to many of the symptoms of Epilepsy. During the seizures you may be unconscious or alert, you may not realize you had a seizure. Another symptom of epilepsy is shortness of breath and coughing, this is because seizures interfere with your heart rate and breathing.

What systems are being affected by epilepsy?

62857 — 2015-12-10 16:17:59 UTC

Epilepsy affects the brain by having abnormal activity that causes the seizures to happen. The circulatory and respiratory system are affected by seizures affecting the heart rhythm and breathing causing coughing and shortness in breath sometimes this may lead to heart diseases. The central nervous system is being affected when the abnormal signals are interrupting the normal functions of nerves. The muscular and digestive system is being affected because when seizures are happening the brain sometimes can tell the muscles to contract and relax causing uncontrollable jerks. The reproductive system is not affected directly it can have impacts on pregnancies, most pregnancies involving the mother having epilepsy has a high risk of delivering an underweight baby and stillbirth.

How are you diagnosed?

62857 — 2015-12-11 17:32:12 UTC

When being diagnosed with epilepsy doctors look at your medical records, family history of seizures, if you have any medical conditions and if you are on any medication. A series of questions is asked the patients such as: At what age did the seizures begin?, What factors seem to bring on the seizures?, What do you feel before, during, and after the seizures?, How long do the seizures last?, Have you been treated for epilepsy before?, What medications were prescribed and in what dosages?, Was the treatment effective?. Blood tests, Electroencephalogram a procedure that records the brain's continuous, Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) is a procedure where special needle is placed into the lower back, into the spinal canal. This is the area around the spinal cord. The pressure in the spinal canal and brain can then be measured. A small amount of cerebral spinal fluid can be removed and sent for testing all of these are some tests that can help determine if you have Epilsey.

feedback loop

62857 — 2015-12-11 17:33:05 UTC

Possible treatments

62857 — 2015-12-11 17:33:31 UTC

Epilepsy can not be cured but there is treatment available. Treatment depends on several factors specific to the patient such as which age, type of seizures, frequency of seizures, lifestyle, and chance of pregnancy. Seizure medications are dependent on what part of the brain the seizures are accruing. Some patients may need more than one medication to prevent epileptic seizures more effectively.

What is happening in your body when you have Epilepsy

66027 — 2015-12-21 16:07:36 UTC

Epilepsy is known as a neurological disorder involving the nervous system. Epilepsy is caused by abnormal activity in the brain, sometimes this may start to effect other parts of the brain.

Statistics

66027 — 2015-12-22 03:12:12 UTC

Epilepsy is the 4th most common neurological problem, each year 150,000 or 48 out of 100,000 people will develop Epilepsy. 1 in 26 people will develop Epilepsy in their entire life, that is about 1.3-2.8 million people who have epilepsy.

Medical Disease Project

66027 — 2015-12-23 03:43:37 UTC

Epilepsy

By: Raene Ganal and Erin Shelbey

Hour 3

Learning More

66027 — 2015-12-23 04:21:50 UTC

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1187259-overview

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2510/

http://www.healthline.com/health/epilepsy/effects-on-body

http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/treating-epilepsy?page=3

http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/guide/epilespy-diagnosis-tests

http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/epilepsy-statistics