There are more than 100 billion nerve cells in the brain which are used to communicate with one another; some encourage others to send follow up messages (excitation), while others tend to block them (inhibition).
A balance is needed to ensure that the brain works correctly. If there are too many nerve cells sending messages at once without enough being blocked it can lead to what can be described as an electrical storm – or in other words, a seizure.
Common causes can include: brain damage from birth injuries, head injuries, stroke, brain tumours and alcoholism. Some experts believe that seizures have a genetic basis, although it’s rare for epilepsy to run in families. However, no one definite cause has been found.
There is no set group who is most at risk of developing the condition. One in 50 people at some point in their life suffer from seizures and it is believed that around 450,000 people in the UK are affected.
Seizures can occur without any obvious cause, but the risk is much greater in those who’ve had brain damage. These seizures can occur many years after the injury.
Certain recreational drugs (cocaine, for example) and alcohol can induce seizures. And while the first seizures can be brought on by the drug in question, eventually spontaneous seizures may occur even after drug use has stopped.
Epilepsy, except in rare circumstances, isn’t inherited, although the risk of developing epilepsy may be increased slightly in relatives of those who have the condition.
There are two types of seizures:
n Partial seizures which begin in one area of the brain and then spread.
n Generalised seizures which start in both sides of the brain and cause the patient to lose consciousness.
What a patient suffers from, and how other people see what is happening them depends on the type of seizure that they are suffering from.
Seizures can take many forms and don’t always involve losing consciousness or convulsions (when the muscles relax and tighten rhythmically). Most are sudden and short-lived, lasting a matter of seconds or minutes.
Seizures should be considered as a possible cause of recurring episodes of confusion or strange behaviour, especially if the events are short-lived.
Once epilepsy has been diagnosed medication can be prescribed to control the seizures a patient can suffer from.
The choice of drugs depends on the patient and the type of epilepsy they have. The initial dose will be low and gradually increased until the seizures stop.
Sometimes patients can experience side effects, especially if they are on the strong medication. The most common are drowsiness, unsteadiness and dizziness. Rare allergic reactions to some drugs can include rashes and various blood disorders. There may also be longer term side effects such as weight gain and acne.
If the side effects continue or the prescribed drugs do not seem to control the symptoms, a different medication will be tried. Often, the side effects are barely noticeable and work in the best interest of the patient.
For the drugs to work, the patient has to take them continuously. A lot of the time the drugs are thought not to work but it is usually the case that their routine of being taken is not followed.
Suddenly stopping taking them can cause severe seizures.
Many seizure medications react with other drugs, so care has to be taken when starting other medication (for example, antibiotics or painkillers). Many also make the contraceptive pill less effective, meaning patients must inform their doctor before taking the prescription.
