What Is Epilepsy

By: Mental Phobia Click author's name for more of his/her articles

The most common brain disease in the world is the most misunderstood and neglected - Epilepsy is far more widespread than is generally realized, affecting 40 to 50 million people worldwide - about 1 200 of us. We probably all know someone with epilepsy, even though we may not be aware that they have the disease. Yet myths and misunderstandings galore, sometimes even among the medical profession - even the best neurologists do not always understand epilepsy! Epilepsy can strike anyone at any time, but it is not a disease. It affects the brain, but it is not a mental or psychological disorder. It can sometimes be passed from generation to generation, but it is not contagious. It is usually not curable, but in up to 80 percent of cases it can be effectively controlled by drugs.

So what is epilepsy? Broadly speaking, epilepsy is not more than a tendency to have seizures, this responsibility seizures can be caused by many underlying brain dysfunctions. Epilepsy is a group of diseases, not a single condition. It includes a variety of conditions related to the brain is not working - ask what epilepsy is rather like asking what is the weather, when every day is different. It affects each person differently, with a broad spectrum of symptoms and severity vary greatly. Epilepsy is best understood on an individual basis.

This is all the more that epilepsy is a disease that affects not only many aspects of health, but also lifestyle issues such as relationships, education, career and hobbies. In children and adolescents, for example, is the appropriate treatment of epilepsy is important to allow them to fulfill their educational potential, learn to build relationships, build confidence and generally live life fully.

For women have epilepsy very specific consequences for sexual development, menstrual cycle, contraception, fertility, pregnancy and menopause. Until recently tended treatment of women with epilepsy should be the same as in the treatment of women with epilepsy, although 50 percent of people with epilepsy are women. In practice, this meant that women are treated as if they were men, and their special medical needs tend to be ignored or overlooked. But there is now increasing awareness that having epilepsy is not the same thing for a woman to a man, and this corresponds to reading more, one of the key areas prior to conception counseling.

In elderly people, have epilepsy further relevance in that it can be a symptom of an underlying condition such as stroke. Early treatment can also help to prevent physical damage from the attack, which may represent an additional risk to older people whose bones tend to be more brittle. Seizure control is also crucial in enabling the trust to the elderly, at risk of isolation for fear of seizures or can not drive. This potentially applies to anyone with epilepsy, but may have particular relevance for older people.

Understanding epilepsy means different things to the victim and the doctor. As with any medical condition, looks concerned on the inside, the doctor from the outside, although epilepsy may be unique in that the victim often has no direct experience of what a seizure is. If you lose consciousness during a seizure, you miss the most important symptom of your condition. This limited view is often also characterized by lack of information about the disease, which can be quite common even among people affected by it.

For people with epilepsy, epilepsy tends best understood in terms of its immediate effects. This can vary but potentially including poor health, vulnerability, the constant fear of attack, having to take daily medication, may not be able to run, is unsure about a career that has no confidence in relationships. This sounds daunting list. But it must be stressed that it is not the case for everyone with epilepsy. Self-imposed limitations (along with over-protection of others) can do more to affect a person's experience of epilepsy than almost any other factor.

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