Epilepsy
Unlock This Video Now for FREE
This video is normally available to paying customers.
You may unlock this video for FREE. Enter your email address for instant access AND to receive ongoing updates and special discounts related to this topic.
Epilepsy: Understanding Recurrent Seizures
Defining Epilepsy
Epilepsy is presently described as a propensity for recurrent seizures, which are triggered by sudden bursts of excessive electrical activity within the brain. This surge disrupts normal communication between brain cells, leading to interruptions or mix-ups in the brain's messaging.
The Impact of Seizures
The effects of a seizure are contingent on the origin and spread of epileptic activity in the brain. As the brain governs all bodily functions, the experience during a seizure varies depending on these factors, resulting in numerous seizure types. Seizures aren't exclusive to epilepsy; they can arise from diverse causes like head injuries, low blood glucose in diabetics, or alcohol poisoning.
Key Facts About Epilepsy
- Epilepsy: A tendency for recurrent seizures.
- Seizure Types: Approximately 40 different types exist, and individuals may experience more than one.
- Wide Impact: Affects people of all ages and backgrounds.
- UK Prevalence: 1 in 131 people (456,000 individuals).
- Treatment Potential: 70 percent could achieve seizure freedom with suitable treatment.
- Single Seizures: 1 in 20 people may have a single seizure during their life.
- Outgrowing Epilepsy: Many who develop epilepsy as children may "grow out of it" in adulthood.
- Driving License: In the UK, those seizure-free for a year can reapply for a driving license.
- SUDEP: Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy accounts for 500 UK deaths annually.
- Pregnancy: 2,500 women with epilepsy in the UK have a baby each year.
Understanding Seizures
Identifying a seizure involves observing key indicators:
- Sudden Loss of Responsiveness
- Rigid Body with Arched Back
- Noisy, Difficult Breathing
- Convulsions
- Possible Loss of Bladder Control
- Post-Seizure Deep Sleep
A typical description of a tonic-clonic seizure, the most common generalised seizure type:
- Tonic Phase: Involves body rigidity, loss of consciousness, and chest muscle contractions.
- Clonic Phase: Characterized by repetitive muscle contractions and body shaking.
Following a seizure, regaining consciousness may vary, accompanied by confusion and muscle soreness. Headaches and fatigue are common, prompting a desire to sleep.
Some individuals experience warning symptoms called auras before seizures, manifesting as peculiar movements, sensations, or intense emotions. However, seizures often occur without warning.
- IPOSi Unit four LO1.1, 1.2 & 1.3
Recommended Products For You
_-Trauma_10x10_CE.jpg)
.jpg)
