Epilepsy

Epilepsy, a neurological disease that causes repeated seizures, affects 1 in 26 Americans at some point in their lifetime. More than 3 million people in the U.S. are living with epilepsy, with 150,000 new cases being diagnosed each year. While the disease may require ongoing management by neurologists, people who have epilepsy can live long lives.
Speak with our neurology team about scheduling an appointment.

‘A Seizure Disorder’

Your body is controlled by electrical impulses that originate in your brian cells and travel throughout your body. These impulses dictate everything from the movement of your muscles to your emotional state. Epilepsy causes a disruption in these transmissions from the brain—resulting in impairments such as seizures.
Common signs of seizures include the following.

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Loss of awareness
  • A blank, unfocused stare
  • Uncontrollable movements
  • Muscle stiffness
  • Slowed thinking or confusion
  • Pale skin
  • Speech impairment
  • Hearing and vision impairment
  • Stomach pains
  • Hot or cold flashes
  • Numbness or tingling
  • Accelerated heart rate or breathing
  • Feelings of dread, fear or déjà vu

Epileptic seizures affect everyone differently, but the type of seizure you experience will likely remain the same over time. Be advised that seizures can also be a symptom of a separate condition.

Schedule an appointment with our neurology team.

Seizure Triggers

While many seizures happen for no clear reason (unprovoked seizures), several external factors are known to cause one to occur. Learning your seizure triggers may help to reduce their frequency. Common seizure triggers include the following.

  • Alcohol use
  • Flashing lights
  • Recreational drug use
  • Sleep deprivation
  • Dehydration
  • Stress
  • Hormone changes

Risk Factors and Prevention

Although 70% of epilepsy cases don’t have a known cause, several factors could contribute to an increased risk of developing the condition. Those factors include the following.

  • Family History: A family history of certain forms of epilepsy can increase the risk that you will develop the condition at some point in your life.
  • Head Trauma: A blow to the head, if traumatic, can contribute to the development of epilepsy. Learn more about how we treat concussions.
  • Brain Tumor: While not all brain tumors are cancerous, even noncancerous tumors could lead to conditions such as epilepsy. Learn more about brain tumors.
  • Brain Infection: A leading cause of epilepsy, brain infections come in many forms, including meningitis, encephalitis, neurocysticercosis and abscesses.
  • Birth Abnormalities: Birth-related conditions known to increase the risk of developing epilepsy include focal cortical dysplasia, polymicrogyria and tuberous sclerosis.

How We Diagnose Epilepsy

Experiencing multiple seizures that didn’t have a clear cause (such as alcohol withdrawal or low blood sugar) may be enough to receive an epilepsy diagnosis. Diagnostic tests that could confirm the diagnosis or rule out other neurological conditions include the following.

  • Blood Test: While not always necessary to diagnose epilepsy, blood tests can help our experts to rule out other conditions that may cause seizures.
  • Electroencephalography (EEG): An EEG measures the electrical activity in your brain, allowing our experts to identify abnormal patterns that may relate to seizures.
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A combination of a magnetic field and radio waves creates three-dimensional images of your brain to identify abnormal activity that may relate to seizures.
  • Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan: Certified experts use computer-processed X-rays to generate a scan of your body in “slices” to create highly accurate images.
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan: A member of our team injects you with a radioactive substance (called a tracer). The tracer is then absorbed into your body, making brain cells viewable through imaging scans.

Treatment Options

Our board-certified epileptologists use the following approaches to treat epilepsy.

  • Anti-Epileptic Medication: About 70% of individuals living with epilepsy are taking anti-epileptic medication that helps manage their seizures. We consider many factors when prescribing your medication, including your symptoms and medical history.
  • Neurosurgery: If your seizures are originating from a concentrated part of your brain—and surgical intervention wouldn’t impact motor functions such as speech and movement—our surgeons may choose to operate on the affected area.

Learn more about the conditions treated by our expert neurology team.