Help Is Available for Epilepsy
You’re Not Alone
If you’ve been diagnosed with epilepsy, you’re not alone.
Epilepsy is a common neurological condition. About
150,000 adults, adolescents and children are newly
diagnosed with epilepsy each year, according to the
Epilepsy Foundation of America.
What Is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is also known as seizure disorder. Under normal
circumstances, the brain cells communicate with one
another through electrical activity. With epilepsy,
this usual pattern of activity is disturbed.
What Happens During a Seizure?
During an epileptic seizure many neurons fire (signal) at the
same time, causing a surge of excessive electrical activity.
Symptoms May Include
• Strange sensations and
emotions
• Shaking
• Automatic movements
• Uncontrollable
verbalizations
• Unresponsiveness or loss
of consciousness
Causes
• Previous stroke
• Head trauma
• Brain tumor or infection
• Abnormal blood sugar
levels
• Genetic tendencies
• Developmental brain
abnormalities
For up to about half of people diagnosed with epilepsy, a
cause is unknown. *
Diagnosing Epilepsy
Your physician will review all of the options for diagnosing
your seizure activity. Typically, Electroencephalogram
(EEG) monitoring is considered the “gold standard” for
diagnosing the type of seizure a patient is experiencing.
During this testing “brain wave” patterns are monitored
and recorded with video EEG monitoring. This “mapping”
of the brain provides your doctor with valuable information
about your particular type of seizure and where in the brain
your seizures are originating. A complete medical history
is taken and blood work is also performed.
Treatments
Medication therapy is usually the first line of defense
in seizure treatment. For those who don’t respond to
medication, other advanced therapies, such as Vagus nerve
stimulation and responsive stimulation may be an option,
as well as dietary therapy, clinical trials and surgery. Your
doctor will go over all of your options in detail.
Physicians at Bradenton Neurology specialize in the
diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and other disorders
of the brain. Call 941-746-3115 to make an appointment
or for more information.
200 3rd Ave. W., Suite 110 / Bradenton, FL 34205 / 941-746-3115
*Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 190460-0264 9/19