A seizure is a condition in which the brain cells malfunction and send excess electrical signals to certain parts of the organ. Depending on the part of the brain affected, episodes can range in terms of severity, duration and symptoms. It is important to note that any person can have a seizure, and for a variety of reasons. However, some people are more susceptible to them than others. It is also important to note that seizures can be easily treated. However, effective treatment depends almost exclusively on first identifying the underlying cause.
In the most basic sense, seizures occur because the brain experiences an uncontrollable surge of electrical activity. When this happens, the brain cells that are affected fire signals uncontrollably to surrounding cells, thereby resulting activity overload within the brain. Depending on the areas affected, this overload can result in a myriad of symptoms, including but not limited to uncontrollable muscle movements, abnormal sensations and unconsciousness. Effective treatment depends largely on the underlying cause and type of seizure a person experiences.
South Africa has a high prevalence rate of seizures or, more particularly, of epilepsy — meaning unprovoked seizures. Provoked seizures are seizures that occur because of an external trigger, such as heavy alcohol use, low blood sugar and high fevers. Unprovoked seizures, however, are those that occur spontaneously and with no discernible cause. Healthcare providers typically diagnose someone with epilepsy after two unprovoked seizures occur.
In South Africa, epilepsy affects approximately 1 in 100 people, which means it affects approximately half a million South Africans. The country has one of the highest incidence rates of epilepsy of any other country in the world. If every person who lives with epilepsy has at least four immediate family members, the country anticipates that another 2 million people are affected by the condition but do not know it yet.
Most people are likely to experience their first seizure by the age of 20. However, they are most common in people of certain ages. For example, seizures and epilepsy are more likely to affect young children who eventually outgrow the condition by the time they are adults. On the other hand, the risk of having seizures increases after the age of 50, oftentimes due to stroke.
If you or a loved one experience seizures and/or have been diagnosed with epilepsy, you may be seeking answers. Why do these seizures occur, and what can you do about them? For the most effective treatment, it is first important to identify the underlying causes of the episodes. Below are a few of the top causes of seizures:
Though seizures are often portrayed as “sudden events,” the truth is that many people can sense “signs” before an episode occurs. Individuals who have reoccurring seizures typically recognize these signs and know to take precautions before the actual onset of the episode. The signs are also so well-known by healthcare professionals that there is an actual term for the pre-seizure symptoms: prodrome, which some people refer to as an “aura.”
The aura is associated with just a focal seizure (or seizure of one side of the brain) and, for some people, is the only symptom they will experience. If the focal seizure spreads, however, the aura often serves as a warning sign that a seizure is about to occur and that the afflicted person should seek safe surroundings. Auras may take several forms, the most common of which are as follows:
Seizures, if they occur infrequently and in a safe place, generally do not have any lasting complications. However, if they occur when you are engaged in an activity, in a precarious situation or frequently, they may have serious complications for your health and well-being. Some common complications of seizures are as follows:
It is important to note that epilepsy does come with a small risk of sudden expected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Doctors are unclear of why SUDEP happens, though they suspect it has to do with breathing problems or changes in heart rhythm. For people with managed epilepsy — meaning, they are seeking treatment for it — the death rate per year is approximately 1 out of every 1,000 persons. For people who live with unmanaged epilepsy, the death rate is significantly higher, at 1 per 150 persons.
Seizures can be scary, both for individuals who experience them and their loved ones. That said, they are often manageable once you and a doctor determine an underlying cause. For this reason, it is so important to seek a diagnosis as soon after you experience your first seizure as possible. The sooner you do, the less likely you are to experience dangerous seizure complications.