About Epilepsy
| WHAT IS EPILEPSY? |
| Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by a tendency to have seizures which are the result of sudden, brief changes in how the brain works. A person is said to have epilepsy when they have had two or more unprovoked seizures. In normal brain function, millions of tiny electrical charges pass from nerve cells in the brain to the rest of the body. A seizure occurs when the normal pattern is interrupted by sudden and unusually intense bursts of electrical energy which may cause strange sensations, emotions, behaviors or convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. These unusual bursts are called seizures. |
| WHAT IS A SEIZURE? |
| An epileptic seizure is an event that results from an abnormal burst of electrical activity within the brain. The features of the seizure depend on the part of the brain from which the electrical activity comes. If the electrical activity remains restricted to one part of the brain, the person may or may not lose awareness. If the electrical activity involves the whole brain, the person will always lose awareness and may fall to the ground. Some people with epilepsy experience a sensation called an aura, or warning, before they have a seizure. The exact type of aura – a feeling of temperature change, a distinct smell or taste, a feeling of tension, anxiety or deja-vu – can be different for different people. Most seizures stop spontaneously. Very occasionally, seizures may not stop spontaneously and the person requires treatment to stop the seizure. Information about First Aid for epilepsy and seizures can be found here on Epilepsy Ontario's website. For a person who has epilepsy, there are certain triggers which may provoke a seizure. Some of these include: flashing lights, stress, fatigue, a change in anti-epileptic medication, heat or humidity, poor nutrition, and fever. |
| TYPES OF SEIZURES | ||
| The modern system of seizure classification, the International Classifciation of Epileptic Seizures developed by the International League Against Epilepsy, categorizes and distinguishes different types of seizures. It draws an essential distinction between partial and generalized seizures. If the excessive electrical discharge is restricted to a given (localized) area in the brain, the seizure is termed partial. If the entire brain is involved, the seizure is generalized. For more details about different types of seizures, please visit Epilepsy Canada’s website explaining “Types of Seizures”. |
Partial Seizures are often characterized by abnormal brain activity that occurs in one area of the brain resulting in involuntary movement or unusual sensations, attention and behaviour changes. Partial Seizures can be further classified into either: Simple Partial Seizures (formerly focal seizures) Complex Partial Seizures (formerly psychomotor or temporal lobe seizures) |
Generalized Seizures are characterized by abnormal brain activity in many areas of the brain. They may or may not include convulsions, but they usually involve a loss of consciousness. Generalized Seizures can be further classified into either: Generalized Absence Seizures (formerly petit mal) Tonic Clonic Seizures (formerly grand mal) |
| WHO IS AFFECTED BY EPILEPSY? | WHAT CAUSES EPILEPSY? | HOW IS IT TREATED? |
| Epilepsy affects over 400,000 people in Canada and over 11,000 people in Waterloo-Wellington. It is estimated that 40 million people world-wide have epilepsy. Epilepsy affects males and females of all ages, though it is slightly more common in children and the elderly. There are more than twice as many people with epilepsy in Canada as the number of people with cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and cystic fibrosis combined; however, it remains an overlooked and under-funded health condition. | In 65% of epilepsy cases, the cause is unknown. In the remaining 35%, some of the more common causes include: head injury, trauma at birth or high fever, stroke, meningitis, abnormalities in the blood vessels of the brain, or brain tumors. Most of the time, epilepsy is not inherited. | There is currently no cure for epilepsy. However, proper treatment of the condition can often help control seizures and aid the person to live their life to the fullest. Epilepsy may be treated through medication, vagus nerve stimulation, ketogenic diet (for children), or brain surgery. Medications can help control seizures in 50-70% of people with epilepsy; however, they are not a cure and can often have side effects. |
*Disclaimer: All information contained on this website is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care professional.
ADVOCACY & AWARENESS
Epilepsy is a health condition for which a lot of stigma is still associated. This is likely due to the unfair way people with epilepsy have been treated historically and a lack of understanding about the health condition.
In 2004, Canada officially adopted Lavender as the awareness colour for epilepsy through Epilepsy Canada's Lavender: Think Epilepsy Campaign. The Lavender flower was chosen because it traditionallly represents solitude -- symbolizing the feelings of isolation and seclusion that people with epilepsy often face. Contact us to purchase your lavender-coloured awareness bracelet or ribbon to show your support for this important cause.