“Causes of epilepsy vary by age of the person. Some people with no clear cause of epilepsy may have a genetic cause. But what’s true for every age is that the cause is unknown for about half of everyone with epilepsy.”
Epilepsy Foundation
Archive | May 2014
Part 2 Diagnosis, Medical Management & Rx of Epilepsy.
Diagnosis of Epilepsy
The history of the person is the most valuable component of the workup of that individual with possible epilepsy.
The routine diagnostic tooling to see if someone has this disease is a EEG which is the major diagnostic test. EEG takes short samples of brain wave activity with 26 wires to the scalp recording amplified brain waves from the superficial regions of the brain by means of scalp electrodes.
Laboratory studies are done to rule out various causes for seizures. Routine blood and urine studies are often done for baseline information. Electrolytes and blood chemistries will be evaluated to identify possible metabolic causes for seizures.
Neuropsychological testing may be done in the evaluation of persons presenting with seizures. The purpose of neuropsychological testing is to determine if there is brain dysfunction and to determine if the pattern of change in brain function is indicative of a destructive lesion. Neuropsychological testing involves evaluation of cognitive functions and personality and emotional traits.
Medical Management
The major medical treatment for epilepsy is antiepileptic medications. Epileptic seizures can be controlled in 50 to 95% of cases with this form of treatment depending on seizure type and compliance of the individual taking their medications.
Those taking medications for epilepsy know if a single first line drug is not effective a second first lin drug is added but the noneffective drug is tapered off while the second first line drug is given. Know during this time frame there is a risk for seizure activity so practice safety (ex. do not drive).
In some cases there is surgery: those with intractable seizures is the epileptic focus may be possible. In some cases partial complex seizures are the common seizure treated by surgery. The focus of this seizure type has often been found in the anterior temporal and inferior frontal regions of the brain cortex.
There are other treatments as well.
Care of an individual during a Seizure
The care of a person in a seizure should focus primarily on maintaining a safe environment. The seizure that has greatest risk for causing injury and even fatality is the generalized tonic/clonic (grand mal), although there is a potential for injury with any seizure that involves alteration of consciousness.
The 2 major goals for care during a seizure are protection from injury and prevention of aspiration. The person’s head should be cradled if on the floor to prevent banging of the head. At no time should the person be restraint when having a seizure. The person should be turned to their side to allow the tongue to fall away from the airway and allow drainage of the excessive saliva that accumulates to drain out of the mouth during the seizure. You should stay with the person till the seizure stops and note the behavior mentally and physically the person exhibits while having the seizure and how long it lasts. Immediately call 911 (especially if this is the first seizure the person ever had) or call the neurologist of the individual to have the him or her be evaluated ASAP.
QUOTE FOR FRIDAY
“About 1 in 100 people in the United States may have an unprovoked seizure once in life. However, a solitary seizure doesn’t mean you have epilepsy. At least two unprovoked seizures are generally required for an epilepsy diagnosis.”
MAYO CLINIC
What is Epilepsy?
Most people with epilepsy are otherwise healthy; as long as it is controlled like most other diseases. A seizure is a physical manifestation of paroxysmal and abnormal electrical firing of neurons in the brain. Think of it as numerous voltage (hyperexcitability of neurons) going throughout the brain meaning brain waves going in all directions with the brain saying its too much activity causing the brain to go into a seizure.
When the seizure occurs there is a decrease in oxygen since the brain isn’t capable to send messages during the seizure. If the seizure continues to repeat one right after another the person is in status epilepticus and if the seizures doesn’t stop the person can lead to a neuronal death; like John Travolta’s son who died of this.
The term seizure disorder may refer to any number of conditions that result in such a paroxysmal electrical discharge. These conditons could be metabolic or structural in nature. Epilepsy is the term for those who have a second seizure that occurs spontaneously and without preceding metabolic or structural cause for the occurrence. Epilepsy is a chronic disorder that requires antiepileptic drug therapy; usually thorough out life.
Etiology of Epilepsy is generally a sign of underlying pathology involving the brain. It may be the first sign of nervous system disease (ex. Brain tumor), or it may be a sign of a systemic or metabolic derangement.
Metabolic and Systemic Causes of Seizures:
a.) Electrolyte Imbalance=Acidosis, heavy metal poisoning, Hypocalcemia, Hypocapnea, Hypoglycemia, Hypoxia, Sodium-Potassium imbalance, Systemic diseases (liver, renal failure, etc…) Toxemia of pregnancy, and water intoxication.
b.) Infections like meningitis, encephalitis, brain abcess.
c.) Withdrawal of sedative-hypnotic drugs=Alcohol, Antiepileptic drugs, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines.
d.) Iatrogenic drug overdose=Theopylline, Penicillin.
Other causes of epilepsy can be Trauma, Heredity.
Structural causes of epilepsy:
Head trauma/Degenerative Disease like Alzheimer’s or Creutfeldz-Jacob or Huntington’s Chorea or Multiple Sclerosis or Pick’s Disease. There is also tumors or genetic disease or Stroke or Infections or Febrile seizures.
Types of seizures
I-Partial seizures (seizures beginning local)
1-simple partial seizures-(the person is conscious and not impaired). With motor symptoms, autonomic symptoms and even psychic symptoms.
Check in this weekend to find out about how epilepsy is diagnosed with medical management and care of a person while having a seizure. See you tomorrow. 😉
2.)-Complex partial seizures-(the person is with impairment of consciousness)
II-Generalized seizures-(bilaterally symmetrical and without local onset).
3.) Tonic clonic seizures – Grand Mal
QUOTE FOR THURSDAY
“Stay mentally & socially active – stimulating activities strengthen brain cells and the connections between them, and may even create new nerve cells. Social activity not only makes physical and mental activity more enjoyable, it can reduce stress levels, which helps maintain healthy connections among brain cells.”
alz.org (alzheimer’s association)
Brain Health Part 2: How to get the brain waves on a healthy pathway, that helps the body overall.
Now, how do we reach that, you say? In review of part 1 (yesterday’s article), we now know from yesterday’s article Part 1 – the basics of how the brain waves operate with how the brain waves work with a healthy brain as opposed to unhealthy brain but now we need to know how do we reach that steps of keeping the brain healthy and there are a few steps to take. Those steps will train your brain waves to become balanced more effectively in both motor and cognitive function. This includes the following: 1.) Diet (foods you eat on a routine basis 24 hours/7days week on your routine diet foods, with including exceptions of occasionally treats when you are in ideal weight range or ideal body mass index range) 2.) Balance both rest and exercise 3.) Learning healthier habits (from types of foods you eat including all the food groups, when to eat, how large a meal, how many times a day, what exercise keeps you healthy, and how the body works with our metabolism). 4.) The hardest and most promising ingredient, if it’s reached, is you are effectively training & practicing the healthy habits of daily living with having all brain waves working appropriately. To obtain this goal you need to know the area(s) that need to be improved to make your life a healthier one. You know what your routine lifestyle is like now and what health habits you’re not doing now. (Ex. Either needing to sleep more=8hrs a day is healthy, or increase your cognitive/problem solving more with the brain from reading to crossword puzzles daily to looking at the news daily or even college classes register for or take up a hobby=ceramics to simply learning how to play an instrument, or just simply eating better foods). At first this may take discipline but then it becomes a natural way of living or just a routine you adapted in your life style. You know yourself better than anyone else and if you feel you need a little help to get in the right direction in reaching a healthier state than you came to the right blog for a helping hand. Our diet plus Dr. Anderson’s guidance with his book “Dr. A’s Habits of Health” will help increase the brain’s function with learning what healthy habits are and you choosing what changes to make for your life regarding diet, exercise & habits. First doing this you need to learn this knowledge in steps using an outlined, structured, and time period that is suitable for you. So set a goal for yourself that you find reachable. Most importantly, you actually practicing the healthier habits forever which become a breeze for you when you understand the logic behind the diet and healthy habits we teach you. Learning proper eating, proper health habits routinely is not just for 6 months or less but for life with understanding why you’re making the change so you’ll be more inclined to doing them. Brain wellness.com even further expands my article with the following; it agrees that the following are important in your life advertising to learn about 11 DOMAINS of brain health:
To learn all about foods, food groups, with supplements, our metabolism, how fast foods work as opposed to healthy ELEVEN (11) DOMAINS OF BRAIN HEALTH™
1. Nutrition and Hydration: Memory Preservation Nutrition®
2. Physical Exercise
3. Mental HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/mental-cognitive-stimulation/”&HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/mental-cognitive-stimulation/” Cognitive Stimulation including Cognitive Education/The Serper HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/mental-cognitive-stimulation/” HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/mental-cognitive-stimulation/”Method™, Memory Techniques HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/mental-cognitive-stimulation/”&HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/mental-cognitive-stimulation/” Medication Management
4. Management of Stress and Depression
5. Social Engagement HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/social-engagement-support/”&HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/social-engagement-support/” Support
6. Sleep needed for brain health
7. Balanced Chi (Energy)
8. Music (listening to and playing music) and Other Creative Arts HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/music-listening-to-and-playing-music-and-other-creative-arts-crafts-story-telling/”&HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/music-listening-to-and-playing-music-and-other-creative-arts-crafts-story-telling/” crafts, story-telling.
9. Spiritual Practices – Pray, Meditate, Forgive, Let Go, Be Kind HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/spiritual-practices/”&HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/spiritual-practices/” Loving, Practice Gratitude, Be Positive
10. Humor, Fun, Laughter HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/humor-fun-laughter-joy/”&HYPERLINK “http://brainwellness.com/brain-wellness/about-brain-healthy-lifestyles/humor-fun-laughter-joy/” Joy
11. Sense of Meaning and Purpose in Life
If you want to learn healthy habits to bring into your routine day to day schedule with learning about all 4 food groups, how to eat the foods you like 5-6 times a day every 3 hours to 4 hours a day, and for those who even want to learn how to lose weight safely and effectively. Yes you’re interested, than what are you waiting for click onto heathyusa.tsfl.com. We are not just a diet to lose weight but much more. All these ingredients will help keep your brain healthy and even enhance it depending on what you choose to achieve (the ball is in your court). The key is to live a healthy life with all your body systems. This consists of diet, exercise or activity and practicing healthy habits routinely in your life that will help prevent or assist you in treating illnesses/diseases (not add to them like obesity and anorexia can). Ending result it makes you feel great both inside and out. The better we treat ourselves regarding health the higher the odds we will live a longer, more active and healthier life. There is not just one food to eat or one type of exercise to do or one healthy habit to perform that will keep you healthy; there are choices. Come onto my website which is no fee, no charge, no hacking, it will just let you check us out to look further in understanding how to take a shape for your life with Dr. Anderson and even myself as your health coach in helping you learn what these healthier habits or changes are for a better life that will help keep your brain and overall body healthy (again, mind and body). It allows you to make all the decisions in what you want to do regarding what to eat (diet), do as exercise/activity, and practice as healthy habits added in your life. We just provide the information and even the healthy foods in your diet; you decide if you want them. I eat them 5 to 6 times out of the day with one meal my meat or fish (high protein) and vegetable (lean and green) to help keep my metabolism on a steady rate. I have lost over 20 lbs. and find it to be cheaper than the foods in the supermarket. You make all the choices. Wouldn’t you want less disease/illness for yourself and for even others throughout the nation including the future generation. Well than click on over and take a look with what Dr. Anderson and myself provide. We both have been in the health care system; Dr. Anderson over 30 years and myself over 25 years. Dr. Anderson is the co-founder and medical director of “Take Shape for Life”; so click on to http:// healthyusa.tsfl.com. Thank you for reading my blog. I know you will benefit from it, and from my blog you will learn daily about health, disease and illness caused by just bad habits, poor diet and no exercise/activity in your life. So don’t stop reading my blog articles and I hope to hear from you soon at my website under comments. Listening to other mind perceptions is an open mind.
QUOTE FOR WEDNESDAY
“Research suggests that high cholesterol may contribute to stroke and brain cell damage. A low fat, low cholesterol diet is advisable. And there is growing evidence that a diet rich in dark vegetables and fruits, which contain antioxidants, may help protect brain cells.”
alz.org (alzheimer’s association)
How the brain is affected by your HEALTH.
Let’s start with how the brain operates; think of the human body as a car for a moment. The brain of the car is a computerized disc that allows a lot of the operations to take place in making the engine and more run proper and safely when the key is turned on (if that car is at least late 1980’s or newer). The battery is like the nervous system allowing connection of electrical currents to many parts of the car enabling them to do their job (Ex. lights turned on at night). Well we can’t live without the brain (sort of like the computerized disc in the car). Our nervous system works with the brain in allowing currents to be sending messages to our body parts to function (sort of like our car battery). To provide a MD with accuracy in evaluating how your brain is operating or if dysfunctional (Ex. Seizure disorder, Alzheimer disease-dementia, etc…) he or she uses a tool that is called an electroencephalogram (EEG) and he looks at your brain waves (alpha, beta, delta, & theta waves). Well how the car is diagnosed is through a diagnostic scanner that connects to your car telling the mechanic how the car is functioning, to see why certain car lights are on at the dash board when they shouldn’t be (ex. Like when the brake light or engine light or temperature light is on) well the doctor uses as a diagnostic tool also to evaluate these brain waves of the human body called an electroencephalogram (EEG). Well during certain times of human functioning the brain shows certain brain waves which gives information to MD’s on the patient’s brain normality regarding its function. There are the 4 traditional brain waves that researches in 1930-1940 have identified. These brain waves show us what is going on in the body. The following is a breakdown of what these waves represent in action: Alpha-appear when you are relaxed and calm. Beta-appear when we are actively thinking or actively doing problem solving Delta-appear during sleep Theta-are associated with deep relaxation (like a hypnotic relaxation), in sleep, and visualization. These brain waves are measured in what we call Hertz=Hz, for abbreviation. So Alpha=(8-13 Hz), Beta=(13-38 Hz), Delta=(below 4 Hz) Theta=(4-7 Hz). Since these brain waves were introduced into medical profession, other types of brainwaves have been identified and the traditional 4 have been further subdivided into 2 other groups; they are: 1)Sensory Motor Rhythm- This involves with some brain and motor function and 2)Gamma rhythm- This is more involved with mental activity of the brain. Our overall brain activity is a mix of all the frequencies at the same time, some in greater quantities and strengths than others. So what is the meaning of all this? The answer is Balance with having Flexibility. This generally means being able to shift ideas or activities when we need to or when something is just not working. We don’t want to regularly produce too much or too little of any brainwave frequency. Just like the car, if you’re constantly in overdrive or the opposite it will stress the overall engine and its associated parts to the point that the car is no longer running effectively or productively. This is the same with the brain; it should not constantly be in cognitive thinking or problem solving 24 hours/7days a week, but not a zombie either. Living your life in keeping your brain waves balanced along with eating a balanced diet and doing regular exercise (2 to 3 times a week up to daily) with rest will help you maintain a good weight that is beneficial for your mind and body. Same principle as the car just constantly doing one of these activities, staying in the same gear or activity mode will hurt you (Ex. Prevent vitamin deficiency like calcium deficient which puts bones at risk of getting a fractured or broken bone. From too much work out with no rest=sprain or injury of the body. Without staying within a healthy weight can put you at risk for anorexia or obesity and both can cause injury to the body, like anemia or cardiac/diabetic diseases.) How do you make or manage a healthy brain? Well, first being able to control the brain through balance and flexibility with resilience; that is the capacity of humans to come out of an extreme shock, damage, injury and trauma followed by getting back to a normal life (like run with the ball but don’t drop it.) Simply it is saying we bounce back positive after a negative stress in our lives (deep depression, become hateful or resentful, drink heavy to increasing or a smoker with increasing packs smoked/day rather than quitting cold turkey=unhealthy for the brain and their overall body). This is surely not saying it’s easy but that is why brain training yourself with healthy habits will help you deal with stress in your life better. Stay in a negative state, this keeps your brain in the same mode (Ex. Depression) and become stagnated. It can be hard to get out of especially the longer you stay in it; and it brings yourself down further into the negativity (depression, lack of confidence in oneself). So whatever stresses, injury, emotional hard time, pain, or fatigue that is due to never balancing your life (brain waves) you need to take the step to support your health both mentally and physically by directing your brain waves to something else positive in particular. It may not always be simple but no matter the hardship there is someone else in this world in the same boat as you or worse off than you. The more you think along those lines the easier it gets in dealing with life. Without brain balance, flexibility with resilience we holistically cannot function effectively; just like the car without the battery or computerized disc in today’s vehicle the car won’t function properly, unless it runs on electricity but it still won’t function correctly if the computerized disc is not working. We need all our brain waves balanced to sustain our wellness and health. Again, this generally means being able to shift ideas or activities when we need to or when something is just not working (like being healthy). We don’t want to regularly produce too much or too little of any brainwave frequency. Well now you know how the basics of how the brain operates, how the brain waves have to operate to stay healthy but now we need to know how do we reach that step and that’s tomorrow’s article Part 2 but if you want to know how to get healthier for your brain and the body overall right now than go to my website http://healthyusa.tsfl.com/. , otherwise see you tomorrow for Part 2.
Quote for Tuesday
”Most people have severe fatigue, weak muscles, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. Irritability, anxiety and depression are common.”
MedicineNet.com