Epilepsy in Petaluma, CA
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that causes an individual to experience involuntary seizures. A person is determined to have epilepsy if they have suffered more than one seizure with no direct cause.
What are the characteristics of an epileptic seizure?
Not every seizure will present itself in the same way. Some may appear as if the person is staring intently for a long period of time while others may be more violent and cause the person to fall or shake uncontrollably.
There are also different types of seizures. These types are separated based on which part of the brain that they affect, and the symptoms they are associated with. A generalized seizure will affect the entire brain, while a focal seizure is located in one particular area of the brain.
What are the causes of a seizure?
There is rarely a clear reason for a person’s epileptic seizures. All that is truly known is that during a seizure, the brain has a sort of “electrical storm” where it sends out incorrect signals to other parts of the body. These signals are what lead to different reactions during a seizure like muscle spasms or other strange sensations.
If a source can be linked to an individual’s seizures, it is typically identified as being a:
- Brain injury
- Abnormal brain development
- Stroke
- Infection of the brain
- Genetic disorder
- Other neurologic disease or illness
Diagnosis and Treatment for Epilepsy
In order to accurately diagnose a case of epilepsy, the affected person will need to complete a series of brain scans. These scans will give your doctor a better idea of what is happening inside of the brain during a seizure, which can help determine a proper course of treatment.
There is no cure for epilepsy. However, there are many medications and alternative therapies available to help control a person’s epileptic seizures. Most patients will find success with such medications, but those who are not able to achieve consistent results may consider surgical options. Surgery is often best for patients who suffer from focal seizures since it may be possible to treat the exact area of the brain that is involved with these seizures.
If you experience any type of unexplained seizure, you should seek medical attention immediately. Epilepsy is very common, and is usually possible to treat or manage with the help of a doctor. To schedule a consultation at Sonoma Neurology, Pain & Headache, please call our local office today at 707-415-4273.
