| Epilepsy |
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Epilepsy is a chronic condition that
affects about 2.7 million Americans.
Approximately 15.5 billion dollars are
incurred through medical expenses each
year to treat this disorder. Epilepsy
adversely affects the overall productivity
of the population and thus negatively
impacts the earnings of the population.
Although people of all ages can be affected
by this condition, epilepsy is usually
observed in the very young and in the
elderly. Epilepsy is a general term
that describes several types of seizures.
Individuals who are diagnosed with epilepsy
usually suffer from a variety of intermittent
seizures. A seizure is defined as an
involuntary change in body movement
or function, sensation, awareness, or
behavior because of an abnormal electrical
activity in the brain.
Causes and Risk Factors
The exact cause
of epilepsy is unknown, but it is believed
to result from a chemical imbalance
in the brain. Some of the probable causes
and risk factors of epilepsy are tumor,
low blood sugar or sodium, head injuries,
exposure to toxic chemicals, substance
abuse, alcohol withdrawal, medical trauma
such as stroke (including hemorrhage),
and congenital defects or injuries during
birth. A few types of epilepsies are
believed to be hereditary.
However, genetic inheritance is not
the sole cause of these types of epilepsies;
heredity simply causes an individual
to be more susceptible to environmental
factors that cause seizures. Some of
the factors that may trigger epileptic
seizures are alcohol and drug abuse,
stress, lack of sleep, tiredness, illness,
hormonal changes such as those experienced
during menstruation and menopause, flickering
or flashing lights, and certain medications
and supplements. It is very difficult
to determine why some individuals suffer
from epileptic seizures and why some
do not.
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