Dr Manish Gupta

Overview

For many years in the past, there were misunderstandings about epilepsy. People used to believe that epilepsy is something that can be passed on to children. Though genetics does play a role in epilepsy, it’s rarer than you think. Apart from genetics, multiple factors can cause epilepsy. In this article, we've covered a variety of epilepsy causes, common triggers, and much more.

What are the causes of epilepsy?

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the causes of approximately half of all epilepsy cases are unknown. Seizures can be caused by "anything that disrupts the normal pattern of neuronal activity — from illness to brain damage to abnormal brain development," according to the NIH.

However, the cause of epilepsy may vary based on age. The following are the causes that can contribute to causing epilepsy, as per The Epilepsy Foundation.

For newborns:

• Malformations of the brain
• Oxygen deficiency during birth
• Low blood sugar, low calcium, low magnesium, or other electrolyte issues
• Inborn metabolic mistakes
• Intracranial bleeding
• Drug use among mothers

In babies and children:

-Fever (febrile seizures)

-Infections

Adults and children:

-Congenital conditions like Down syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, and neurofibromatosis

-Factors of genetic origin

-A brain disease that progresses (rare)

-Trauma to the head

Senior citizens:

-Stroke

-Dementia

-Trauma

Also, read - Neurological Disorders and their Symptoms

Does genetics play a role in epilepsy?

Many types of epilepsy are caused by genetic factors.

• If a parent has idiopathic epilepsy, the child has a 9 to 12 percent chance of developing epilepsy as well.

• Although epilepsy that runs in families is uncommon, if a child has epilepsy, their siblings are at a higher risk of having epilepsy as well.

• If one twin has idiopathic epilepsy, the other is very likely to as well.

• Children of epileptic women have a higher risk of developing epilepsy than children of epileptic men.

Also, read - Neurosurgery in Modern Times

What are the factors that trigger seizures?

There are some common triggers to watch out for if you have epilepsy. A trigger is not the same as a cause; a trigger occurs after you have epilepsy and occurs fairly consistently before seizures (and happens more often than simply by chance). Triggers can lower a person's "seizure threshold," increasing the likelihood of a seizure.

Some of the most common epilepsy triggers are as follows:

Consumption of alcoholic beverages

Withdrawal from alcohol

Dehydration

Low blood sugar levels

Fever

Stress

Insomnia(sleep disturbances)

Changes in hormones associated with the menstrual cycle

Toxin or poison exposure (lead, carbon monoxide, street drugs, excessively large doses of antidepressants or other prescribed medications)

As suggested by our neuro experts, keeping a journal of your symptoms can help you track the trigger factors and identify them.

Also, read - Neurosurgeon Vs Orthopaedic Surgeon for Back Pain

How can we help with the treatment?

If you are in search of epilepsy treatment in India, our medical trip advisors will serve as your guide throughout the treatment. They will be physically present with you even before the medical treatment begins. The following will be provided to you:

• Opinions of expert physicians and surgeons
• Transparent communication
• Coordinated care
• Prior appointment with specialists
• Assistance with hospital formalities
• 24*7 availability
• Arrangement for travel
• Assistance for accommodation and healthy recovery
• Assistance in emergencies

We are dedicated to offering the highest quality medical tourism in India to our patients. We have a team of highly qualified and devoted health trip advisors who will be by your side from the beginning of your journey.

Overview

While epilepsy is common, anyone can develop its symptoms. Over 10 million people in India have epilepsy, making it one of the most common neurological conditions. This happens due to abnormal electrical brain activity known as seizures. It's a kind of electrical storm inside your brain. Because your brain controls so much, many things can go wrong. However, knowing about its symptoms can help in early diagnosis and treatment. In this blog, we’ve discussed various types of epilepsy along with the symptoms for each one of them.

Understanding the condition: epilepsy

Epilepsy is characterized by repeated seizures caused by abnormal electrical signals produced by damaged brain cells. Epilepsy is also known as a seizure disorder.

A seizure is caused by an uncontrolled burst of electrical activity within brain cells. Changes in awareness, muscle control (your muscles may twitch or jerk), sensations, emotions, and behavior can all occur during a seizure.

What are the various types of epilepsy and the symptoms associated with them?

Irrespective of gender, epilepsy can affect people of all age groups, especially children and older adults. The symptoms may vary based on the type of epilepsy you or your loved ones are suffering from.

Broadly, epilepsy can be divided into two types:

• The generalized onset of a seizure
• The focal onset of a seizure

The focal seizure happens in two ways: with loss of awareness and with impaired awareness.

You may experience:

-Altered emotions

-Change in sensations like changes in smell, sound, or taste

-Dizziness

-Tingling sensation

-Involuntary movements in certain body parts, like jerking in the hands or legs

With impaired awareness, you may experience

-Passing out or staring into space

-Hand rubbing

-Walking in circles

The generalized onset of seizures can happen in a variety of ways.

• Absence seizure: staring blankly into space, blinking and lip-smacking
• Tonic seizures: stiffening of the back, arm, and neck
• Atonic seizures: loss of muscle control, muscles go slack
• Clonic seizures: affect the neck, face, and arms with repeated jerking
• Myoclonic seizure: sudden brief jerks or twitches in the arms
• Tonic-clonic seizures: involve both tonic and clonic signs like body stiffness and tremor, loss of bladder control, and tongue biting.

Also, read- Neurological Disorders and their Symptoms

What can cause seizures?

A child may suffer from one or more types of seizures. While the precise cause of the seizures is unknown, the following are the most common causes of seizures:

In newborns and babies:

-Birth adversity

-Congenital (present from birth) issues

-Fever/infection

-Body metabolic or chemical imbalances

In children, teenagers, and young adults:

-Head trauma or a brain injury

-Infection

-Congenital disorders

-Factors of genetic origin

-Unknown causes

Other potential causes of seizures include:

-Tumor of the brain

-Neurological issues

-Withdrawal from drugs

-Medications

-The use of illegal drugs

Also, read- Cerebral Palsy Symptoms in Babies - Risk Factor, Prevention, Treatment

What can trigger episodes of seizures?

Epileptic seizures are frequently linked to specific triggers or changes in your daily habits or routine. Here are some examples of common behaviors and factors that may precipitate an epileptic seizure:

-Anxiety, stress, or other emotional issues.

-Abuse of alcohol or drugs, or the process of abstaining from alcohol or drugs

-Sleep schedule changes, feeling extremely tired, or significant sleep deprivation

-A medication change, or skipping or missing a dose of anti-seizure medication

-Overstimulation of the senses, such as brightly flashing lights, watching television, playing video games or working on a computer

-Hormonal changes in women, usually caused by pregnancy or menstruation

-Mental strain, such as that caused by solving complex problems.

How can you prevent those episodes of seizures?

An epileptic seizure can't always be predicted; sometimes they happen for no apparent reason. However, many people can see a link between certain behaviors and seizures. You may be able to avoid seizures if you take steps to reduce these risk factors.

The following are some tips that you can try to reduce the risk of developing seizures.

• Get plenty of sleep every night—create and stick to a regular sleep schedule.
• Learn how to manage your stress and relax.
• Avoid using drugs and drinking alcohol.
• Take all of your medications exactly as directed by your doctor.
• Stay away from bright, flashing lights and other visual stimuli.
• When possible, avoid watching TV and using the computer.
• Maintain a healthy diet.

Until more is known about the causes of epilepsy and how it can be prevented, your best bet is to avoid the things that can trigger your seizures.

How can we help with the treatment?

If you want to undergo treatment for epilepsy or other neurological condition in India, our health trip advisors serve as your guides throughout the medical treatment and will be physically present with you even before the treatment begins. The following will be provided to you:

• Opinions of expert physicians and surgeons
• Transparent communication
• Coordinated care
• Prior appointment with specialists
• Assistance with hospital formalities
• 24*7 availability
• Arrangement for travel
• Assistance for accommodation and healthy recovery
• Assistance in emergencies

We are dedicated to offering the highest quality health care to our patients. We have a team of highly qualified and devoted health trip advisors that will be by your side from the beginning of your journey.

Overview

Our nervous system is a highly specialized and complex network. However, there are a group of neurological diseases that can affect our highly functioning neurological condition.

Unfortunately, every year, millions of people are affected by neurological disorders, and many of them are unaware that they’re suffering from one such condition. Knowing the symptoms can lead to a proper neurology diagnosis and treatment. That’s why here we’ve discussed some common neurological conditions and their symptoms in brief.

• Headache: Headaches are one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting people of all ages. While most headaches may not be a cause for concern, if your headache comes on suddenly and repeatedly, you should see a doctor because these could be symptoms of an underlying condition.

The sudden onset of severe headache, headache associated with fever, light sensitivity, and stiff neck are all red flags of something more serious, such as intracranial bleeding or meningitis.

Although tension-type headaches and migraines are not life-threatening, dealing with chronic pain can be exhausting.

• Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder characterized by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, making you more prone to recurrent seizures.

The tricky part is that having one seizure in your life does not necessarily indicate that you have epilepsy. However, if you have two or more, you may have epilepsy. Seizure symptoms can vary depending on where the seizure is occurring in the brain. It is critical to see your doctor if you have a seizure.

• Stroke: A stroke is typically caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain, which is frequently caused by a clot or blockage in an artery. Many interventions can now be used to prevent a stroke, but time is crucial in such circumstances to prevent strokes. The B.E. F.A.S.T. mnemonic is useful for remembering the symptoms of a stroke: B: Balance issues; E: Changes in vision; F: Facial weakness; A: Arm weakness; S: Speech; and T: Time.

These signs and symptoms do not always indicate a stroke.

However, you should always consult your doctor if you’re at risk of developing a stroke.

• Parkinson’s disease:

Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that impairs your ability to move. It typically affects people around the age of 60, with symptoms gradually worsening over time. Typical symptoms include:

-Constipation can occur at any time during Parkinson's disease, even decades before motor symptoms appear.

-Muscle stiffness can occur throughout your body, making it difficult to swing your arms while walking in some cases.

-The majority of Parkinson's disease patients experience some loss of their sense of smell.

-Face stiffness: In the early stages of Parkinson's disease, your face may exhibit little or no expression.

• Dementia: Dementia is a catch-all term for a group of diseases, including Alzheimer's, that can cause your brain to fail. Dementia, which becomes more common as you get older, causes continuous loss of brain tissue, which can affect:

-Behavior

-Emotions

-Memory

-Perceptions

-Thinking

Consult your doctor if you suspect you are suffering from dementia symptoms. Some medications and therapies can aid in symptom management.

How can we help with the treatment?

If you are in search of neurosurgery treatment in India, we will serve as your guide throughout your treatment and will be physically present with you even before your medical treatment begins. The following will be provided to you:

• Opinions of expert physicians and surgeons
• Transparent communication
• Coordinated care
• Prior appointment with specialists
• Assistance with hospital formalities
• 24*7 availability
• Arrangement for travel
• Assistance for accommodation and healthy recovery
• Assistance in emergencies

We are dedicated to offering the highest quality health care to our patients. We have a team of highly qualified and devoted health trip advisors that will be by your side from the beginning of your journey.