Epilepsy - NHS

Epilepsy is a common condition that affects the brain and causes frequent seizures. Seizures are bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily ... Skiptomaincontent Home HealthAtoZ Backto HealthAtoZ Overview - Epilepsy Contents Overview Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Livingwith Epilepsyisacommonconditionthataffectsthebrainandcausesfrequentseizures.Seizuresareburstsofelectricalactivityinthebrainthattemporarilyaffecthowitworks.Theycancause awiderangeofsymptoms.Epilepsycanstartatanyage,butusuallystartseitherinchildhoodorinpeopleover60.It'softenlifelong,butcansometimesgetslowlybetterovertime. Symptoms ofepilepsy Seizurescanaffectpeopleindifferentways,dependingonwhichpartofthebrainisinvolved.Possiblesymptomsinclude:uncontrollablejerkingandshaking,calleda"fit"losingawarenessand staringblanklyintospacebecomingstiffstrangesensations,suchas a"rising"feelinginthetummy,unusualsmellsortastes,andatinglingfeelinginyourarmsorlegscollapsingSometimesyoumightpassoutandnotrememberwhathappened. When togetmedicalhelp SeeaGPifyouthinkyoumighthavehadaseizureforthefirsttime.Thisdoesnotmean youhaveepilepsy,asaseizurecanhaveseveralcausesandsometimesthey'rejustaone-off,but youshouldseeadoctortofindoutwhyithappened.Findoutmoreaboutthetestsforepilepsyyoumighthave Call999foranambulance ifsomeone:ishavingaseizureforthefirsttimehasaseizurethatlastsmorethan5minuteshaslotsofseizuresinarowhasbreathingproblemsor has seriouslyinjuredthemselvesFindoutwhattodoifsomeonehasaseizure Treatments forepilepsy Treatmentcanhelpmostpeoplewithepilepsyhavefewerseizuresorstophavingseizurescompletely.Treatmentsinclude:medicinescalledanti-epilepticdrugs –thesearethemaintreatmentsurgerytoremoveasmallpartofthebrainthat'scausingtheseizuresaproceduretoputasmallelectricaldeviceinsidethebodythatcanhelpcontrolseizuresaspecialdiet(ketogenicdiet)thatcanhelpcontrolseizuresSomepeopleneedtreatmentforlife.Butyoumightbeabletostoptreatmentifyourseizuresdisappearovertime. Living withepilepsy Epilepsyisusuallyalifelongcondition,butmostpeoplewithitareabletohavenormallivesiftheirseizuresarewellcontrolled.Most childrenwithepilepsy areabletogotoamainstreamschool,takepartinmostactivitiesandsports,andgetajobwhenthey'reolder.But youmayhavetothinkaboutyourepilepsybeforeyoudothingssuchasdriving,certainjobs,swimming,usingcontraceptionandplanningapregnancy.AdviceisavailablefromaGPorsupportgroupstohelpyouadjusttolifewithepilepsy.Findoutmoreaboutlivingwithepilepsy Causes ofepilepsy Inepilepsy,theelectricalsignalsinthebrainbecomescrambledandthere are sometimessuddenburstsofelectricalactivity.Thisiswhatcausesseizures.Inmostcases,it'snotclearwhythishappens.It'spossibleitcouldbepartlycausedbyyourgenesaffectinghowyourbrainworks, asaround 1in 3peoplewithepilepsyhaveafamilymemberwithit.Occasionally, epilepsycanbe causedbydamagetothebrain,suchasdamagefrom:a strokea braintumoura severeheadinjurydrugabuse or alcoholmisuseabraininfectionalackofoxygenduringbirth Pagelastreviewed:18September2020 Nextreviewdue:18September2023 Next : Symptoms