Symptoms of Epilepsy
Epilepsy manifests through seizures, which can vary significantly in type and intensity. Symptoms depend on the type of seizure:
- Focal Seizures: Involve one area of the brain. Symptoms may include twitching, unusual sensations (like smells or sounds), or altered consciousness.
- Generalized Seizures: Affect both hemispheres of the brain. These include:
- Absence Seizures: Brief lapses in awareness, often mistaken for daydreaming.
- Tonic-Clonic Seizures: Sudden stiffening and convulsions, often accompanied by loss of consciousness.
- Myoclonic Seizures: Sudden jerks in the arms or legs.
- Atonic Seizures: Loss of muscle tone, causing falls.
Other common symptoms during or after a seizure include confusion, fatigue, memory loss, or emotional changes.
Management of Epilepsy
Epilepsy is managed with a combination of approaches:
- Medications: Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the primary treatment and help control seizures in about 70% of cases.
- Surgery: Recommended for individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy, targeting the seizure’s origin.
- Lifestyle Adjustments: Adequate sleep, stress management, and avoiding seizure triggers (e.g., flashing lights or missed medications).
- Dietary Therapy: A ketogenic diet may help some drug-resistant cases.
- Devices: Vagus nerve stimulation or responsive neurostimulation for specific cases.
Regular follow-ups, education, and psychological support are essential to improve quality of life and manage the condition effectively.