Information and facts on Epilepsy

 

Over 2 million people in the USA alone have epilepsy, a health problem indicated by recurring seizures. Seizures are a symptom of epilepsy, but not all people who have seizures have epilepsy, and even those who do may also have seizures that are not epileptic in nature. An epileptic seizure is a temporary malfunction of the brain caused by uncontrolled electrical activity from the nerve cells in the cerebral cortex. The seizures rarely damage the brain, but they can make life difficult. The underlying cause(s) of epilespy are relatively unknown. Seizures may occur for no apparent reason or may be triggered by a wide range of things including: allergies, drug or alcohol withdrawal, fever, flashing lights, hunger, hypoglycemia, infection, lack of sleep, metabolic or nutritional imbalances; or trauma, especially head injury. Note nutritional supplementation is very important for people with epilepsy.

Seizures in children can be particularly disturbing. They are the most common neurological problem affecting children-indeed, one-third of people with seizure disorders are children. lodiopathic epilepsy (seizures of unknown cause) or febrile seizures which are nonepileptic seizures induced by fever, affect around 3% of children. Angelman syndrome which is a rare congenital disorder seen in children, is associated with seizures or tremors. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome is a severe seizure disorder that usually develops in children between the ages of one and eight. Seizures in very young children often stem from brain injury before birth, damage to the central nervous system, or metabolic inconsistencies. In older children, epilepsy is more likely to result from genetic factors, infections of the central nervous system, or head injury. Nutritional supplementation is very important for people with epilepsy for their general health and to help balance their body helping to prevent seizures and other health issues.

Different types of Seizures

Absence also known as petit mal

This type of seizure is most common in children and teenagers. It is characterized by a blank stare lasting about half a minute; the person appears to be daydreaming. During this type of seizure, the individual is unaware of his or her surroundings. Staring or daydreaming in children should not be confused with absence seizures. If a child is daydreaming, he or she can be aroused by a simple touch or someone talking to him or her. A child having an absence seizure cannot.

Atonic or drop attack

A childhood seizure in which the child loses consciousness for about ten seconds and usually falls to the ground because of a complete loss of muscle tone.

Complex partial or temporal lobe

A blank stare, random activity, and a chewing motion are characteristic of this type of seizure. The person may be dazed and unaware of his or her surroundings, and may act oddly. There is no memory of this seizure. A person may experience a distinctive warning sign called an aura before this type of seizure. The aura is itself a form of partial seizure, but one in which the person retains awareness. The aura may be experienced as a peculiar odor, "butterflies" in the stomach, or a distorted sound. One man with epilepsy, an ardent racetrack gambler, said he always heard the roar of a crowd, followed by the name of a favorite racehorse, just before he lost consciousness.

Generalized tonic-clonic also known as grand mal.

This type of seizure is characterized by sudden cries, a fall, rigidity and jerking of the muscles, shallow breathing, and bluish skin. Loss of bladder control is possible. The seizure usually lasts two to five minutes, and is followed by confusion, fatigue, and/or memory loss. It can be very frightening to witness, especially for the first-time observer.

Myoclonic

Brief, massive muscle jerks occur.

Simple partial or Jacksonian

Jerking begins in the fingers and toes and progresses up through the body. The person remains conscious.

Simple partial sensory

The person may see, hear, or sense things that do not exist. This may occur as a preliminary symptom of a generalized seizure.

Other Changes To Make

• drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or filtered water a day

• eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)

• nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good

• juice is good (make your own with a juice machine)

• do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods

• carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack

• a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)

• do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks

• do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...

• use stress relief like going for walks in the park (or the 10/90 rule - see Stress)

• brown rice is good to eat

• avoid red meat and animal fats

• reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others

• fast a few days a month

• get at least 8 hours of sleep 

• exercise light to moderate amounts

• avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet

• do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke

• do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal

• do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry

• do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else

All information presented on these web pages is not meant to diagnose, prescribe, or to administer to any physical ailments.
In all matters related to your health please contact a qualified, licensed Medical Consultant or Doctor.