What is epilepsy?

The most common disease of the central nervous system is epilepsy. Compared with other diseases, treatment of the disease is difficult. Of course, everyone has heard about this disease, but not everyone knows what epilepsy is and what its prerequisites are. This disease is characterized by the defeat of the central nervous system (brain). At the same time, motor functions, as well as mental, sensitive and vegetative functions are disrupted. The condition of the patient with epilepsy between seizures is characterized as absolutely normal. With a single seizure, it can not yet be unequivocally asserted that this is the particular disease. To confirm this diagnosis, it is necessary to fix repeated seizures, which, as a rule, come suddenly and do not depend on the environment.

In order to understand what epilepsy is, you need, first of all, to identify its causes. Acquired epilepsy in childhood is often a consequence of constant hypoxia during pregnancy of the mother. The presence of intrauterine infections, such as rubella, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus infection, herpes, also causes a high percentage of this disease in childhood. Birth trauma can also precede a disease. The appearance of epilepsy can also be affected by hereditary predisposition, however, about eight percent of patients are at risk.

Epilepsy is symptomatic, which is characterized by the presence of a structural defect in the brain; Idiopathic, in which there is a hereditary predisposition, but there is a lack of structural lesions of the brain; Cryptogenic epilepsy, when it is not possible to establish the cause of the disease.

Focal seizures are accompanied by convulsions, peculiar sensations in parts of the body, especially in the limbs and face. They are caused by auditory, visual, taste or olfactory hallucinations. There may also be a feeling of short-term abdominal pain, lack of concentration, a feeling of intense fear. In this case, there may not come a violation of consciousness. Sometimes the consciousness can be turned off (without convulsions), in such a state the patient automatically continues to perform the actions. Usually, such attacks last about a minute. After longer periods (both with and without seizures), the patient has confusion, drowsiness and fatigue. Of course, every person affected by this disease is aware of what epilepsy is and how it subsequently affects his condition.

Generalized seizures can be both convulsive and non-convulsive. The most serious and dangerous type is the first. Often the patient anticipates his approach in advance. He has a feeling of anxiety, irritability, a feeling of cold or heat. Immediately before the attack, strain all muscles, often accompanied by a cry. It is possible to bite the tongue and even stop breathing. Usually after this comes a period of increased fatigue, drowsiness, headaches.

In generalized seizures, there may be eyelid tremors, rolling of the eyes, tilt of the head. They are short-lived, often remain unnoticed.

In order to properly respond to attacks of the disease, you need to fully understand what epilepsy is and how to ease the patient's condition.

The most common form of the disease is temporal epilepsy. The focus of the disease is localized in the temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex (in thirty percent of patients it appears in infancy). There are two forms of the course of the disease - amygdalogypocampal and lateral. In the first case, seizures may be accompanied by a violation of mental functions, in which consciousness is conserved. There may also be loss of consciousness, memory. In the lateral form, visual and auditory hallucinations appear, speech disorders, dizziness, fainting.

If frequent attacks of temporal epilepsy are not observed, any profession is accessible to such a patient, except for high-altitude work, night shifts, and activities requiring increased attention.