Who Is At Risk For Epilepsy?

Almost 2.7 million Americans have been afflicted with epilepsy. That means 9 out of every 1000 Americans have the disorder.

Although statistics show that more men are afflicted with epilepsy than women, everybody is susceptible to having epilepsy. It can happen to any body, of any race and at any age. However, people with certain conditions are at greater risk of acquiring epilepsy.

It can be remembered that in the twentieth century, some states in America banned people from marrying for fear of passing on the disease to their children. Some even had to go through sterilization to prevent reproduction. This is due to the widespread belief that epilepsy is 100 per cent hereditary. This practice only stopped with the passage of the Disabilities Act.

And yet, although epilepsy is not necessarily inherited, the family members of a person with epilepsy have a higher risk of developing the disease. The siblings of a child with epilepsy, for example, are more likely to develop the disorder. This is not because epilepsy is contagious but is due to the likelihood of a genetic tendency to develop epilepsy. More so, epilepsy is more likely to occur in siblings of the child who suffers from generalized seizures. In fact about 4 to 10 per cent of the other children in the family will develop epilepsy. But this still depends on the type of epilepsy and the number of afflicted family members.

In addition, children of parents with epilepsy are also at a greater risk of developing epilepsy, pegged at 5 per cent. The risk for children whose father has epilepsy is slightly higher than children whose mother has the disorder. However, the risk is even higher if both parents have epilepsy. Although genetics is a risk factor in developing epilepsy, the risk is relatively low and should not be a cause of great alarm. In addition, even if the children develop the disorder, most of them will definitely outgrow epilepsy by the time they become adults. The advances in modern medicine make it possible to control seizures.

Age is another factor in the development of epilepsy. Although the disorder can strike at any age, children and teenagers are more susceptible. In fact, almost 50 per cent of all cases of epilepsy occur before ten years of age while 30 per cent of the cases are those with ages 10-19. The remaining 13 per cent are people aged 20-29 while ten per cent are those aged 30 and above. Although children have a higher risk of developing the disorder, they tend to experience a reduction in frequency and intensity of the seizures as they grow into adulthood. Some even outgrew the disorder completely.

In addition to the genetic and age factors, people with certain conditions pose a greater risk of developing epilepsy. Studies confirm that up to 5 per cent of the world’s total population may experience a single seizure at one point in their lives. Half of seizure cases without a clear cause are more likely to suffer a second seizure within a span of six months. Having two of such seizures, there is 80 per cent chance that it is epilepsy. Although the exact cause of epilepsy cannot be pinpointed, there are known factors that double the chances of developing epilepsy. Such risk factors include the following:

Babies who experience seizures during their first month

Babies with inborn abnormal brain structures

Babies who are too small for their gestational age

Brain hemorrhage or internal bleeding

Abnormal or unstable blood vessels in the brain

Brain injuries

Lack of oxygen to the brain

Cerebral Palsy

Brain infections such as abscess, encephalitis and meningitis

Brain tumors

Mental illness

Stroke due to the blockage of arteries

Early post-traumatic seizures

Degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease

Drug abuse

Fever-related seizures

Even though finding out the cause of epilepsy is nearly impossible, the best thing one can do is to avoid the so-called seizure triggers such as intoxication, nutritional deficiencies, over-the-counter drugs that decrease the effectiveness of seizure medicines, severe stress, lack of sleep, drug abuse and missed medications.

By: Gaetane Ross

Epilepsy Treatments

An epileptic has the tendency to suffer from recurring seizures. Treatment methods for the disorder have improved over the years thanks to research. Essentially, anti-epileptic medication and surgery are the most viable and widely deployed treatment methods. However, neither of these methods is curative. Medication if taken at prescribed doses will help control the occurrence of seizures.

Treatment for epilepsy seeks to make the patient’s life free of disablement and improve lifespan rather than provide temporary relief from pain.

As always, effective treatment requires proper diagnosis of the problem. For epilepsy, physicians order tests that identify the type based on symptoms and first-hand information given by the patient or observers.

The most common diagnostic procedure is a blood test that gives a clear picture of the patient’s health condition and possible triggers for the seizures.

Brain scans are an effective tool in getting pictures of the brain using X-rays that help locate damaged areas. A widely known scan type is Computed Tomography. Another expensive but sophisticated technique is magnetic resource imaging (MRI) that is useful in detecting lesions in the temporal lobe.

After proper diagnosis, the patient and physician decide on the best course of treatment. This involves taking into account several factors such as age, gender, family history, allergies, and patient’s opinion.

Usually, the patient is given a dosage of medicines and asked to consume the same regularly. The results may not be as expected and would require regular checkups and increased dosage levels. When it is identified that medication has little impact on patient’s improvement, surgery comes forth as an option.

Surgery gives better results for epileptics prone to strokes, blood vessel defects, and brain tumors. Usage of minimally invasive devises aid in the patient enjoying better quality of life.

Usage of a Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) device is another treatment option. This involves transmitting electrical energy in mild amounts to the brain through the nerve.

Apart from these physician-recommended treatment methods, an epileptic can also adopt natural and alternative therapies that will improve overall well being. Examples include meditation, yoga exercises, massages, Reiki, and aromatherapy.

It is likely that some patients will have side effects from taking treatment. These could include rashes, weight gain or loss, and so on. These can be avoided if the physician is made aware of existing allergies or family history of obesity.

On the patient’s part, avoiding possible seizure causers and paying more attention to lifestyle improve seizure management.

By: Richard Romando