Epileptic seizures can occur like clockwork. But what sets the clock?
One in 26 people in the United States will develop epilepsy at some point in their lives and that list is growing with 150,000 new cases of the disease reported every year. An estimated 3.4 million Americans and 65 million people worldwide currently live with...
Frequently Asked Questions About Epilepsy – Part 3
Health and Safety Concerns Are there special concerns for women who have epilepsy? Women who have epilepsy face special challenges. Hormonal changes can cause some women with epilepsy to have more seizures during their period. For women with epilepsy, there are also...
Frequently Asked Questions About Epilepsy – Part 2
Preventing and Managing Epilepsy How can I prevent epilepsy? Sometimes we can prevent epilepsy. These are some of the most common ways to reduce your risk of developing epilepsy: Have a healthy pregnancy. Some problems during pregnancy and childbirth may lead to...
Frequently Asked Questions About Epilepsy – Part 1
Epilepsy Basics What is epilepsy? What is a seizure? Epilepsy, which is sometimes called a seizure disorder, is a disorder of the brain. A person is diagnosed with epilepsy when they have had two or more seizures. A seizure is a short change in normal brain activity....
Atonic Seizures
Overview A seizure happens when electrical activity in the brain surges suddenly. Atonic seizures are a type of seizure that causes sudden loss of muscle strength. These seizures are also called akinetic seizures, drop attacks or drop seizures. The sudden lack of...
What is VNS Therapy® and how does it work?
VNS Therapy® is a neuromodulation treatment designed for people with drug-resistant epilepsy 4 years of age and older with partial onset seizures. It can safely lead to fewer and shorter seizures and better recovery after seizures. Drug-Resistant Epilepsy Medication...
Epilepsy: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment And Prognosis
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that can affect people of all ages. The distinguishing feature of this disease is the recurrence of convulsive seizures to which the patient falls prey Information passes from the brain to the nerves via neurons (nerve cells) and...
Absence Seizures
Absence seizures involve brief, sudden lapses of consciousness. They're more common in children than in adults. Someone having an absence seizure may look like he or she is staring blankly into space for a few seconds. Then, there is a quick return to a normal level...
Focal Seizures
Focal (focal) seizures begin in one area of the brain. Focal seizures can be simple or complex. Based on the seizure description, physicians may be able to identify in which part of the brain the seizures are originating. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Seizures are divided in...
What Is a Complex Partial Seizure?
Complex partial seizures, now called focal onset impaired awareness seizures, are the most common type for adults who have epilepsy (a disorder that affects your brain cells). They’re usually harmless and only last a minute or two. But they can be strange or worrying...
