What is Epilepsy?

Preeti Parikh

Dr. Parikh, a board-certified pediatrician affiliated with The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, is HealthiNation's chief medical editor.

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I'm Dr. Preeti Parikh,
Chief Medical Editor at HealthiNation.

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Epilepsy is a common chronic
neurologic condition but

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there are still a lot of
misconceptions about this disorder.

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Having a seizure doesn't automatically
mean a person has epilepsy, epilepsy is

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when you have repeat seizure over a period
of time with no obvious triggers.

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Here's what happens when
you have a seizure.

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The brain contains billions
of nerve cells called neurons

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that are arranged in patterns or clusters.

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These neurons are the body's control
center, managing everything from thoughts

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and emotions, to the heartbeat and
voluntary physical movements.

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Neurons communicate by sending out and
receiving electrical signals,

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when neurons signal abnormally,
it can cause seizures.

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If you have a seizure and have never had
one before, it's important to call 911,

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or have someone take you to
an emergency room immediately.

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There are many different kinds of seizures
and each causes a different set of

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symptoms depending on the area
of the brain that's effected.

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The most common type of seizure is
called the tonic clonic seizure,

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these used to be called
grand maul seizures.

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It's the type that causes a person to
drop to the floor, shake violently, and

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lose consciousness.

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But, there are other kinds of seizures,
which may cause temporary confusion, blank

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staring spells, small jerking movements
of the arms and legs, or lip smacking.

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Some seizures can even cause odd,
unpleasant sensations that only

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the seizing person senses or feels, such
as a nasty smell, or unexplained fear.

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These subjective feelings
are commonly called auras.

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Most seizures last just a few seconds or

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minutes, but
some can continue much longer.

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While a person may not remember
having the seizure, he or

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she may still experience
certain post seizure symptoms.

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These can include confusion,
exhaustion or a throbbing headache,

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weakness in the hands, arms, or
legs, difficulty speaking, or

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temporary loss of vision or partial
loss of vision, are also not unusual.

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These symptoms can be important
clues as to the type of seizure and

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the area the brain that was
involved with the episode.

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Seizures are a warning sign that something
unusual is happening in the brain, but

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having a seizure doesn't
mean you have epilepsy.

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A person is diagnosed with epilepsy
typically after experiencing two or

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more seizures that cannot be attributed
to another underlying condition.

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Unfortunately we don't have a cure for
epilepsy but

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there are treatments that are available
to control or prevent seizures.

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New research has also being done to
discover the root cause of epilepsy

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as well as new and better treatments.

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Thanks for watching.