What is Epilepsy and How to Avoid It?

While most epileptic syndromes cannot be prevented, health experts say avoiding head trauma and birth anoxia (inadequate levels of oxygen in a tissue or an organ) are among ways to prevent an individual from having “epilepsy.”

Medically, anoxia can be defined as the absence of oxygen with an emphasis on organs, muscle groups, or blood not getting sufficient oxygen.

Anoxia as hazard of childbirth happens when the umbilical cord comes out of the cervix before the baby does. If that cord is pinched or kinked, the baby could be cut off from his or her oxygen supply.

When the brain has been deprived of oxygen for a certain amount of time, the brain goes into emergency mode and starts operating at a rapid speed until it starts malfunctioning –- sometimes causing seizures due to an overload of electric signals.

According to the Department of Health (DOH), epilepsy is a brain disorder characterized by repeated seizures (“fits”), which may take many forms ranging from the shortest lapse of attention to severe and frequent convulsions.

Head trauma involves head injuries from accidents that may happen — ranging from the early years of life of the child, youth and adult stages of life.

Good prenatal care (including adequate nutritional status, detection of high-risk pregnancies, and control of high blood pressure and infectious diseases during pregnancy) can prevent brain damage in the developing baby that may lead to epilepsy.

Such measures also may reduce the risk of complications during labor and delivery that may lead to epilepsy in the child.

Various infections in childhood and adolescence may affect the central nervous system and possibly lead to epilepsy.

To reduce the likelihood of these infections, appropriate immunizations (vaccinations) are essential.

To reduce the risk of head injuries, make sure that children are always restrained in car seats and wearing seat belts.

Similarly, helmets should always be worn while riding a bicycle, motorcycle or horse or while skating or skiing.

Helmets are needed for both children and adults who play football, softball, baseball, or engaging in sporty activities.

Among the signs and symptoms of epilepsy, according to the DOH, are the following:

* Temporary symptoms like loss of awareness, disturbance of movements, sensation, mood and mental functions.

* More physical problems such as fractures and bruising.

* Higher rate of other diseases or psychosocial issues and conditions

Some causes of seizures may arise due to an existence of a brain disease (brain tumor), excessive discharges in a group of brain cells (due to meningitis and encephalitis), and imbalance of the chemical neurotransmitter in the brain (due to excessive alcohol, cocaine and other drugs).

Other provocative factors that can trigger epilepsy are photic stimulation (diagnostic procedure use to investigate brain activity), over breathing, over hydration, loss or lack of sleep, emotional and physical stress.

According to DOH, about 70 percent of newly diagnosed cases can be successfully treated with an anti-epileptic medication that should be taken without interruption, which means that dosage of treatment should not be missed out.

The DOH observes National Epilepsy Week every Sept. 1 to 7. (PNA) SCS/LSJ