Diseases

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Epilepsy is a group of neurological disorders characterized by epileptic seizures. Epileptic seizures are episodes that can vary from simple stare blankly or periods of unusual behavior, sensations, and sometimes loss of awareness of nearly undetectable periods to long periods of vigorous shaking. These episodes may result in physical injuries, including occasionally broken bones.

Cause

Etiology is idiopathic in most of the cases. Epilepsy is caused by abnormal activity in the brain cortex. But the mechanism is unknown.

Brain injury, stroke, brain tumors, infections of the brain, birth defects, pork tapeworm infection etc are some of the causes detected that may lead to epilepsy through a process known as epileptogenesis.

The most important factor is that there might or mightn't any triggering factor and hence the episodes can recur at any time without a regular intervals.

Isolated seizures that are provoked by a specific cause such as poisoning, fever or as part of complication of any other systemic disease and they cannot be considered as epilepsy disorder People with epilepsy may be treated differently in various areas of the world and experience varying degrees of social stigma due to their condition.

Prevalence

Epilepsy is more common in older people. In the developed countries, onset of new cases is seen frequently in babies and the elderly. In the developing world, onset is more common in older children and young adults, due to differences in the frequency of the underlying causes. Rarely people will have an unprovoked seizure by the age of 80, and there is a chance of experiencing a second seizure.

Signs & Symptoms

Epilepsy is characterized by a long term risk of recurrent seizures.

Classification of Epileptic seizures

Diagnosing epilepsy is much difficult as it may involve simple symptoms like temporary confusion, staring, uncontrollable jerking movements, and loss of consciousness or awareness, feeling of fear, anxiety or déjà vu. At least two unprovoked seizures are generally required for an epilepsy diagnosis.

The most common one is Convulsive type and less common is Non-convulsive type. Convulsive seizures are of two categories: Generalized which involves both the hemispheres of brain and Focal seizure which involve only one hemisphere.

 Focal epileptic seizures are most commonly seen. Without loss of consciousness, simple partial seizures, are preceded by sensory, psychic, autonomic or motor phenomena known as Auras. Involuntary jerking movements of body parts and spontaneous sensory symptoms such as flashing of light, tingling or dizziness occur.

With an impaired conscious level, complex partial seizures occur as repetitive movements such as rubbing of hands, chewing, swallowing or walking in circles and in some cases simply staring into spaces and not responding normally to the environment.

Generalized seizures characterized by loss of consciousness without any warning are of six varieties.: tonic-clonic ( body stiffening and shaking), tonic (stiffening of muscles followed by fall on ground), clonic (rhythmic jerk movements), myoclonic (Spasm of muscles), absence (Staring, slight turn of head or blinking of eye)  and atonic seizures (collapse or sudden fall).

Complication

Epilepsy can have adverse effects on social and psychological well-being, learning disabilities leading to epilepsy syndrome comprising depression, anxiety, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), migraine,Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Most important is that as epileptic episodes are unpredictable in most cases it lead to drowning, car accidents, pregnancy complications, emotional health issues, permanent brain damage and death or Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP)

Ayurvedic management for Epilepsy

Prevention aspect is limited to certain type of Epilepsy. Triggering factors can be prevented upto an extent. Good care for children from head injury is needed.

Ayurvedic internal medicine can be given in an aspect of preventive measures most of them are pertaining to ensure healthy nervous system.

Panchakarma can be done in a non-epileptic periods that will enhance their vitiated dosha.

Yoga meditation is an inevitable source of management that would activate the normal brain functioning.

Ketogenic diet such as high fat, low carbohydrate, adequate protein and a healthy vegetarian recipe may decrease the number of seizures.