Epilepsy, a common disease in society, is also known as "epilepsy" among the public. The most well-known type; Although it is a type of seizure that is seen with violent contractions and relaxations, loss of consciousness and some involuntary movements and usually lasts for a few minutes, there are many types of epilepsy.
Every year, the second Monday of February is commemorated as World Epilepsy Day.
The most well-known type in society: Grand mal epilepsy
Epileptic seizures (epilepsy) is a disease that is common in society and has been known since ancient times. Epilepsy is a clinical condition caused by abnormal and strong electrical discharges of the brain tissue or a group of brain cells (neurons) that occur from time to time and at irregular intervals.
The most well-known one in the society is 'grand mal epilepsy' (whole epilepsy). Although epilepsy is a type of seizure that affects the body, is seen with severe contractions and relaxations, includes loss of consciousness and some involuntary - autonomous movements, usually lasts for a few minutes), there are many types of epilepsy and in some rare forms (for example, in some patients, it is completely psychocognitive - psychomotor). It can be difficult even for experienced experts to make a diagnosis (in some patients, autonomic nervous system signs and symptoms, in some patients, very short-term immersion, etc., in numerous different ways, situations where consciousness is affected or not affected). In addition, some conditions can imitate/resemble an epilepsy attack, the most common of which are syncope (fainting) and psychic conditions - somatization attacks, which can be confused with epilepsy.
Epilepsy in older ages. Watch out for attacks!
In most patients, it is a disease on its own and treatment is directed directly to epileptic seizures.
However, in some cases, epileptic seizures are not a disease in themselves, but can be seen as a symptom of some brain diseases. One of the most notable features of these patients is that, unlike primary idiopathic epilepsy (epileptic attacks that are a disease in themselves), which usually occur in childhood, epilepsy attacks occur at late ages (in adulthood). is. Therefore, epileptic seizures in which the first attack occurs at older ages should always suggest an underlying primary brain disease and require evaluation and examination by specialists in this respect.
Epilepsy seen in adulthood, It indicates a brain tumor
Brain tumors are frequently seen as a primary brain disease in epilepsy that begins in adulthood. These seizures, which may be a symptom of brain tumors, can affect the whole body or sometimes occur only in a certain body area (focal motor epilepsy attack), start in a certain place and spread to other parts of the body (motor Jacksonian epilepsy attack), or sensory perception disorders and behavioral changes or other different seizures. It can manifest itself in different ways. The incidence of epilepsy, whether generalized or regional, in brain tumors is 25-50%, and it often occurs as a symptom in slow-growing tumors and in tumors where areas of the brain where the stimulation of the cortex is high are affected/affected. In addition to the insidious and often insufficiently stimulating brain tumor symptoms such as headache, personality and behavioral changes reflected in the slowly progressive clinical picture, epileptic seizures can be a warning for the examination and recognition of the disease.
Insomnia and stress facilitate the formation of epilepsy
Apart from brain tumors, epilepsy attacks can also occur in the tangles of brain vessels, which is one of the most important diseases of Brain and Nerve Surgery.
Epilepsis occurring in arteriovenous malformations of the brain vessels is generally prominent in the young and middle age group and is accompanied by headache, loss of strength in the arms and legs, sensory disorders, speech disorders, etc. It may be associated with other conditions and constitutes an important symptom and finding for diagnosis. The causes of epilepsy attacks, of course, include many diseases. In addition to brain tumors and brain vascular tangles, which are very important for us neurosurgeons, brain abscesses, metabolic diseases, brain inflammations, Diseases such as epilepsy trauma, some medications used or suddenly discontinued, and degenerative diseases of the brain (MS, etc.) should also be specifically mentioned among the diseases that cause epilepsy. In addition, insomnia, emotional stress, hormonal changes/disorders, fluid - electrolyte balance disorders, etc. Many situations can also facilitate the formation of epilepsy.
Consult a specialist as soon as possible!
Does epilepsy go away after tumor treatment?
An epilepsy attack should be considered as a symptom and the underlying problem should be understood. These causes and diseases cover a very wide range.
Epilepsy, which can be seen at any age, from the neonatal period to the very old ages, at what age it occurs, what kind of epilepsy it is and how often it occurs, what it is. The diagnosis of the primary disease is made by looking at whether it is accompanied by signs and symptoms such as: In this process, many examinations must be carried out meticulously. Brain imaging, electroencephalography (EEG), and various blood tests are the tests that should be performed in the first stage.
What are the treatment methods?
Epilepsy is examined and evaluated in detail; Underlying causes and facilitating factors are determined and treatment is arranged for the main cause.
This means either starting appropriate drug treatment and adjusting the lifestyle if we have diagnosed and evaluated epilepsy as a disease in itself, or If a primary brain disease causing epilepsy is detected (brain tumor, ball of brain vessels, brain abscesses or inflammations, brain trauma, degenerative diseases of the brain, etc. and facilitating factors), treatment is directed towards the cause and monitoring the course of the epilepsy and applying additional treatments if necessary.
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