What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a brain condition known for its seizures, and this episode explores what causes a seizure and its effects on the patient.
Epilepsy has a lot of misconceptions, so Preeti Parikh explains what doctors know about the condition. This brain disorder is known for its seizures, and this episode explores what causes a seizure and what it looks like. Witnessing a seizure can be alarming, and it’s important to get emergency medical help immediately. After a seizure, the patient may experience one or more post-seizure symptoms. While there is no cure for epilepsy, there are treatment options for those diagnosed with the condition.
Preeti Parikh, MD serves as the Chief Medical Officer of HealthiNation. She is a board-certified pediatrician practicing at Westside Pediatrics, is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is an American Academy of Pediatrics spokesperson. She holds degrees from Columbia University and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and has completed post-graduate training at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
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[MUSIC]
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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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[MUSIC]
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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.
- Types of Seizures. Atlanta, GA: Center for Disease Control, 2014. (Accessed on February 28, 2016)
- What Happens During A Seizure? Landover, MD: Epilepsy Foundation, 2014. (Accessed on February 28, 2017)
- Seizures. Bethesda, MD: US National Library of Medicine, 2016. (Accessed on February 28, 2017)
- About Epilepsy. Atlanta, GA: Center for Disease Control, 2020. (Accessed on December 22, 2020)