Epilepsy Specialist in Ghaziabad | Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

Epilepsy is a brain disease that makes nerve cells act strangely, leading to seizures. Seizures are like unexpected bursts of electricity in the brain that can change how you feel, act, think, and move. Even though epilepsy can’t be fully fixed, there are many ways to help. Most people with epilepsy, about 70%, can control it using medicines.

Understanding Epilepsy: A Brief Overview

Epilepsy is a chronic condition causing repeated seizures due to abnormal electrical signals from damaged brain cells. Seizures happen when there’s an uncontrolled burst of electrical activity in the brain, leading to changes in awareness, muscle control (twitching or jerking), sensations, emotions, and behavior. Another term for epilepsy is a seizure disorder.

Understanding the Scope of Epilepsy

Prevalence of Epilepsy:

In the United States, approximately 3.4 million individuals live with epilepsy, with 3 million being adults and 470,000 children. Annually, there are 150,000 new cases of epilepsy in the U.S. On a global scale, about 65 million people grapple with epilepsy.

Brain Activity in Epilepsy:

Your brain’s intricate network of cells constantly communicates with and receives messages from various parts of your body through a continuous electrical impulse. Epilepsy disrupts this normal electrical pattern, causing unpredictable bursts of energy, akin to an erratic lightning storm, between cells in one or more brain areas. This electrical disturbance leads to alterations in awareness (including loss of consciousness), sensations, emotions, and muscle movements.

Recognizing Epileptic Seizures: Signs and Causes

Epilepsy primarily manifests through recurring seizures, with specific symptoms varying based on the seizure type. Common signs include:

• Temporary loss of awareness or consciousness.
• Uncontrolled muscle movements, jerking, or loss of muscle tone.
• Blank stare or a distant “staring into space” appearance.
• Temporary confusion, slowed thinking, speech difficulties, and comprehension issues.
• Changes in sensory perception – hearing, vision, taste, smell, numbness, or tingling sensations.
• Upset stomach, waves of heat or cold, goosebumps.
• Involuntary movements like lip-smacking, chewing, rubbing hands, or finger motions.
• Psychic symptoms, such as fear, dread, anxiety, or déjà vu.
• Accelerated heart rate and/or breathing.

Individuals with epilepsy usually experience consistent symptoms with each seizure.

Causes of Epilepsy:

Determining the cause of seizures is often challenging, with up to 70% of cases having unknown origins. Recognized causes include:

• Genetics: Certain types of epilepsy may run in families, suggesting a genetic link that increases the risk.
• Mesial Temporal Sclerosis: Scarring in the inner part of the temporal lobe, leading to focal seizures.
• Head Injuries: Resulting from accidents, falls, or blows to the head.
• Brain Infections: Including abscesses, meningitis, encephalitis, and neurocysticercosis.
• Immune Disorders: Autoimmune diseases that prompt the immune system to attack brain cells.
• Developmental Disorders: Birth abnormalities affecting the brain, such as focal cortical dysplasia or tuberous sclerosis.
• Metabolic Disorders: Conditions impacting the body’s energy metabolism, detectable through genetic tests.
• Brain Conditions and Abnormalities: Tumors, strokes, dementia, or abnormal blood vessels like arteriovenous malformations can lead to epilepsy.

Exploring Epilepsy Treatment Options

Epilepsy management involves various approaches, including anti-seizure medications, specialized diets, and, in severe cases, surgical interventions.

Anti-Seizure Medications:

These medications aim to control seizures, with success rates ranging from 60% to 70%. Treatment is personalized, considering factors such as seizure type, past medication responses, other medical conditions, potential interactions, side effects, age, general health, and cost. More than 20 FDA-approved anti-seizure medications offer a diverse range of options. If medication trials prove ineffective, alternative treatments may be explored.

Diet Therapy:

For individuals, especially children, where medications show limited effectiveness or are not viable due to other considerations, diet therapy becomes an option. The ketogenic diet and modified Atkins diet, both emphasizing high fat, moderate protein, and low carbohydrates, are commonly recommended. Additionally, low glycemic index diets may prove beneficial for some.

Surgery and Devices:

In cases where seizures persist despite medication trials and they significantly impact daily life, surgery may be considered. Epilepsy surgery, conducted at specialized centers, becomes an option when multiple medication trials fail. Surgical approaches include resection (removing abnormal tissue), disconnection (cutting fiber bundles connecting brain areas), stereotactic radiosurgery (targeted destruction of abnormal brain tissue), or implantation of neuromodulation devices. These devices emit electrical impulses to the brain, gradually reducing seizures.

Comprehensive Evaluation:

Before opting for surgery or advanced treatments, a thorough evaluation at an epilepsy center is crucial. This assessment determines candidacy and ensures a safe and effective course of action, particularly if conventional anti-seizure medications prove insufficient.

In epilepsy treatment, the goal is to find the most suitable approach tailored to individual needs, striving to enhance overall quality of life.