What You Need To Know About Epilepsy: Different Types Of Seizures, Symptoms, Treatment

Written By Stephanie Caroline Snyder / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder that causes seizures. A seizure occurs when the nerve cells in the brain malfunction and send signals at random. Seizures can cause different symptoms such as loss of consciousness, abnormal behavior, and changes in muscle control. I

Idiopathic epilepsy, also known as “unexplained” or “id-epilepsy,” is a form of epilepsy. It contributes to approximately 30 percent of all cases of epilepsy worldwide. The cause of idiopathic epilepsy isn't completely understood, but research suggests that genetic factors may play a role in many cases. This means that it is not known what causes it.

Types of Seizures

Seizures are classified into two groups: restricted and general. General seizures involve uncontrolled movement of the entire body, including arms, legs, and voice. Restricted seizures are those in which just one side of the body is affected.

Another type of seizure triggers only a single part of the body, such as a twitch in the arm or a shiver. Idiopathic epilepsy is a form of seizure in which no known cause is found. Physicians can detect some types of epileptic seizures, and other styles cannot be. Diagnosing epilepsy can be complicated because many different types of disorders can cause seizures.

Causes of Epilepsy

Many things can cause epilepsy. Causes include stroke, head trauma, birth injury, migraines, fever, infections, certain medications, and brain tumors. Among the most prevalent types of epilepsy is Infantile. This is one of the most common forms. These seizures occur in the first year or so of life. Children who have epilepsy usually develop epilepsy before they turn two. The following are risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing epilepsy: born premature, which increases the chances of epilepsy; having a sibling with epilepsy; having a family member who has epilepsy; or your mother has a seizure disorder.

To diagnose epilepsy, the person must have symptoms of seizures and undergo medical tests to check the state of the brain. Check out an EEG helmet and you can learn a lot from it about your performance.

Symptoms of Epilepsy

According to Epilepsy Foundation, the most common symptoms of epilepsy include loss of consciousness, anxiety, feeling the onset of a seizure, feeling at the end of an episode or attacks that often happen during sleep, seizures in children, symptoms in adults, visual distortions, changes in time, muscle stiffness, orientation issues, Aphasia, difficulty speaking, disturbance in emotions, obsessions, restlessness and drowsiness.

A clinical examination will help determine whether you have epilepsy. A systematic review of your head, neck, shoulders, and back may aid in determining whether you have epilepsy. The information from this physical examination will be crucial to determining your diagnosis.

Causes and Treatment of Epilepsy

Idiopathic epilepsy has no known cause, and there is no known cure for it. This type of epilepsy often starts at a very early age and usually starts with two or three fits a week. Some children with this form of epilepsy don't control their seizures or have more severe episodes than others.

A genetic condition - called an acquired mutation of the brain such as Down syndrome - can also cause epilepsy. However, seizures with Down syndrome usually start between two and three years of age and not before. Based on the type of convulsion a patient experiences, different medications are available for seizure control and doses.

A few other people have seizures that are resistant to treatment. A child with epilepsy needs treatment right away.

Conclusion

Finding the cause of epilepsy is important because it may lead to a possible treatment. The higher the risk of developing epilepsy, the more critical it is to find its cause. Some parents with young children have found success in treating their children with cannabinoids, and parents have also found success with treatments other than those listed here.

If your child is between three and five years old, you can also contact the Epilepsy Foundation to learn more about epilepsy and treatments. Visit the Epilepsy Foundation website for more information.

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Written By:

Stephanie Caroline Snyder graduated from The University of Florida in 2018; she majored in Communications with a minor in mass media. Currently, she is an author, freelance internet writer, and blogger. She was born and raised in Panama City, Florida, where her family still lives. The oldest of four children moved out to Utah to pursue her professional interests in early 2019 and worked on content creation, blogging, and internet articles since then.  She enjoys storytelling, painting, dancing, and swimming with her fiancé Marcus and their beloved dog Pluto.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.