Define Epilepsy
Given the complexities of epilepsy as a medical condition, it is important to properly define it in order to establish a common understanding of the illness.
Today, the families of people who suffer from epilepsy have taken the effort to educate themselves about the condition; however, many in society who are not exposed to the condition remain ignorant about epilepsy and how to help out those who are suffering from it.
Properly defining epilepsy will help eliminate this stigma so people with the condition can feel the support of the people around them and not get ridiculed for the illness that they are battling with.
In order to define epilepsy, let us first take a look at some common misconceptions about this illness: · Epilepsy is contagious! This is a big misconception that causes people to shy away from people with epilepsy.
This is absolutely not true.
· People suffering from epilepsy are not productive members of society.
This is also not true.
Many people with epilepsy are high functioning individuals with only occasional seizures that painfully remind them that the condition is still there.
In fact, people who suffer from epilepsy are just as intelligent and talented as the rest of those who don't suffer from the condition making this a baseless assertion and a blatant misconception.
· Epilepsy can be considered a mental illness.
This is also not true.
Epilepsy is a physical condition with actual physical manifestations.
It affects motor functions during the seizure.
It does not impair an individual's psychology.
· Epilepsy is now a rare condition given the advancements in modern medicine.
This is also not true.
Many people continue to suffer from the condition and while there are many treatment options, it does not universally work for ever people afflicted with the condition.
To define epilepsy, one has to take into account all the chronic neurological disorders that manifest as seizures.
In most cases, the definition applies to seizures that recur and are not known to be triggered by an obvious factor.
In most cases, a person is said to be suffering from epilepsy when there are no identifiable cause for the seizures even if suggestive factors may help explain the condition after a lengthy and thorough diagnostic evaluation.
Under an EEG or electrocardiogram, epilepsy will manifest as an excessive or abnormal brain wave activity which triggers involuntary muscle spasms known as seizures.
Medical statistics indicate that more than 50 million people worldwide suffer from various forms of epilepsy and that a significant percentage of this number hails from the developing world where epilepsy treatment plans are not as developed and misconceptions remain pervasive.
Once diagnosed, epilepsies can be classified in a variety of ways and this also constitutes one of the more important thrusts when medicine seeks to define epilepsy.
The most common way of classification explores the origin of the seizures based on which part of the brain the abnormal activity is coming from.
This strategy in turn paves the way for notable treatment options and medication that can help minimize or reduce the frequency and severity of epilepsy seizures.
Anticonvulsants are very popular in this regard because there is now a high degree of correlation between specific seizure syndrome types and the anticonvulsants that work best with those conditions.
In the end, the task to define epilepsy and make it more understandable to everyone is far from being a done deal.
There are plenty of challenges that remain ahead and each of these challenges has to be tackled to make the world a better place for people suffering from epilepsy.
On the medical front, treatment options have continued to evolve and improve in effectiveness and extent; on the social front, there is more work to be done.
That is perhaps where we can all contribute towards making the world a much better place for people suffering from epilepsy.
If you would like to learn more about the many types of epilepsy, their causes and treatment, be sure an browse through our many articles on the subject.
The more knowledge you can obtain on the subject the greater the chance you have of being of help.
www.
defineepilepsy.
com
Today, the families of people who suffer from epilepsy have taken the effort to educate themselves about the condition; however, many in society who are not exposed to the condition remain ignorant about epilepsy and how to help out those who are suffering from it.
Properly defining epilepsy will help eliminate this stigma so people with the condition can feel the support of the people around them and not get ridiculed for the illness that they are battling with.
In order to define epilepsy, let us first take a look at some common misconceptions about this illness: · Epilepsy is contagious! This is a big misconception that causes people to shy away from people with epilepsy.
This is absolutely not true.
· People suffering from epilepsy are not productive members of society.
This is also not true.
Many people with epilepsy are high functioning individuals with only occasional seizures that painfully remind them that the condition is still there.
In fact, people who suffer from epilepsy are just as intelligent and talented as the rest of those who don't suffer from the condition making this a baseless assertion and a blatant misconception.
· Epilepsy can be considered a mental illness.
This is also not true.
Epilepsy is a physical condition with actual physical manifestations.
It affects motor functions during the seizure.
It does not impair an individual's psychology.
· Epilepsy is now a rare condition given the advancements in modern medicine.
This is also not true.
Many people continue to suffer from the condition and while there are many treatment options, it does not universally work for ever people afflicted with the condition.
To define epilepsy, one has to take into account all the chronic neurological disorders that manifest as seizures.
In most cases, the definition applies to seizures that recur and are not known to be triggered by an obvious factor.
In most cases, a person is said to be suffering from epilepsy when there are no identifiable cause for the seizures even if suggestive factors may help explain the condition after a lengthy and thorough diagnostic evaluation.
Under an EEG or electrocardiogram, epilepsy will manifest as an excessive or abnormal brain wave activity which triggers involuntary muscle spasms known as seizures.
Medical statistics indicate that more than 50 million people worldwide suffer from various forms of epilepsy and that a significant percentage of this number hails from the developing world where epilepsy treatment plans are not as developed and misconceptions remain pervasive.
Once diagnosed, epilepsies can be classified in a variety of ways and this also constitutes one of the more important thrusts when medicine seeks to define epilepsy.
The most common way of classification explores the origin of the seizures based on which part of the brain the abnormal activity is coming from.
This strategy in turn paves the way for notable treatment options and medication that can help minimize or reduce the frequency and severity of epilepsy seizures.
Anticonvulsants are very popular in this regard because there is now a high degree of correlation between specific seizure syndrome types and the anticonvulsants that work best with those conditions.
In the end, the task to define epilepsy and make it more understandable to everyone is far from being a done deal.
There are plenty of challenges that remain ahead and each of these challenges has to be tackled to make the world a better place for people suffering from epilepsy.
On the medical front, treatment options have continued to evolve and improve in effectiveness and extent; on the social front, there is more work to be done.
That is perhaps where we can all contribute towards making the world a much better place for people suffering from epilepsy.
If you would like to learn more about the many types of epilepsy, their causes and treatment, be sure an browse through our many articles on the subject.
The more knowledge you can obtain on the subject the greater the chance you have of being of help.
www.
defineepilepsy.
com
