Brain Disorders: Epilepsy

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Introduction More than 3,000 years ago, people recognized the behaviors that today we now know as a brain disorder called Epilepsy. Epilepsy is more common than most presume. About two million people of all ages in the United States have Epilepsy, and as many as one in twenty-six people will develop Epilepsy at some point in their lifetime. Epilepsy is a medical condition that, with the use of medications such as, Depekote, Dilantin and Phenobarbital can sometimes control the seizures; and surgery in more severe cases. This paper discusses how an Electroencephalogram, or EEG, diagnosis Epilepsy, what happens to the body during and after a seizure, and how seizures affect other body systems, including the nervous and muscular systems.…show more content…
“Seizures are symptoms of abnormal brain function. With the exception of very young children and the elderly, the cause of the abnormal function is usually not identifiable (Epilepsy Foundation, 2013).” Types or causes of seizures are “symptomatic, which can be linked to identifiable diseases or brain abnormalities and cryptogenic seizures, which are diagnosed when no causes can be found. Idiopathic or primary seizures are diagnosed when a genetic, or family, cause is suspected (Epilepsy Foundation, 2013).” An EEG, or Electroencephalogram, monitors the brain activity and maps out the origin of a seizure. The EEG is used in diagnosing a patient who suffers from…show more content…
There are no known preventative methods for Epilepsy; however, there are treatments. Before a person begins treatment, the first step is to ensure that the diagnosis of Epilepsy is correct and to determine, if possible, the type of Epilepsy. This will require a careful review of the person’s medical history and a neurological examination. Tests include an electroencephalogram (EEG) and often a brain scan such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Medical evaluations are the deciding factor in treating Epilepsy (Center for Disease Control,

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