ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
BRAIN INJURY
EPILEPSY
MIGRAINE HEADACHE
PARKINSON'S DISEASE
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
SLEEP DISODERS
STROKE
WHAT IS EPILEPSY?
Epilepsy is the condition of having repeated seizures that have no obvious cause. Nerve cells communicate with each other through electrical impulses. During a seizure, these impulses become overactive. This leads to irregular brain activity. This can cause changes in your behavior and body functioning.
WHAT CAUSES EPILEPSY?
There is no single cause of epilepsy. In fact, for about 70 percent of people with epilepsy, no cause is ever found. Some known causes include:
-
Developmental abnormalities in the brain
-
Infections that damage the brain
-
Lack of oxygen to the brain
-
Disturbance in blood circulation to the brain (stroke and other vascular problems)
-
Metabolic changes such as very low or high blood sugars
-
Tumors of the brain
-
High fever
-
Previous trauma (such as brain injury)
-
Inherited forms
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
The most visible and sometimes frightening sign of epilepsy is a seizure. Seizures are short spells of uncontrolled body behavior. They usually last seconds to several minutes.
There are many types of seizures. Some are more severe than others. You might not be able to respond to voices or things happening around you. You may not remember the seizure. Sometimes a seizure will become widespread, causing symptoms to occur throughout your body.
Some of the symptoms and behaviors that occur during seizures include:
-
Convulsions-uncontrollable shaking and muscle stiffness
-
Brief staring spells
-
Repetitive, automatic behavior
-
Decreased awareness of what is going on around you
HOW IS EPILEPSY DIAGNOSED?
Your neurologist will discuss your seizure history with you. He or she will also need your family's medical history to determine whether you have an inherited form of epilepsy. It is likely that your neurologist will also perform several tests, including:
-
Recording brain wave patterns with electroencephalography, or EEG
-
Computerized imaging of the brain with magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI
-
Blood tests
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS?
The most common treatment to prevent seizures is the daily use of medications. Between 70 and 80 percent of people using such drugs can control or reduce their seizures. Most people whose seizures are controlled with drugs have few restrictions on their activities.
There are many medications available. Some of them work better for one type of epilepsy than another. It is important to talk to your doctor about the choice of medication, how often it is taken, and any side effects. Side effects, if any, may vary from one drug to another and from one person to another. Your doctor will make sure that the prescribed drug is the best medication for you.
In cases where the disorder has reached an advanced stage, or if drug therapy does not work, surgery may be an option. Talk with your neurologist about the best treatment for your seizures.
PARTNERING WITH YOUR DOCTOR
A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating, and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system. You need your doctor to know all about your symptoms and medical history. Then he or she can be more effective in diagnosing and treating your disorder. Likewise, you need to get answers to your questions. Diagnosing and managing your neurological disorder is a partnership between you and your neurologist.
Questions to ask your neurologist
-
What type of disorder do I have?
-
How will this disorder affect my health?
-
What is the treatment and what will it do?
-
How will this disorder affect my daily Iife and activities?
Understanding your disorder and treatment may make it easier to live with the effects of Epilepsy.
For more information or make an appointment, please contact:
Mohsen M. Hamza, M.D.
Neurology Center for Adults & Children
Tel: 310-477-7201
info@neurologycenter.org
WHAT IS MIGRAINE HEADACHE?
A migraine is a recurring, throbbing headache. The pain usually occurs on one side of your head. Migraine is a biological disorder of the brain. While it is more common in women, it can strike anyone. It usually begins in childhood, adolescence, or young adulthood. It often runs in families.
WHAT CAUSES MIGRAINE HEADACHE?
The exact cause of migraine is unknown. It appears to be an inherited biochemical disorder in the brain. People with migraine may have a more sensitive nervous system response than others do. During an attack, changes in brain activity may cause blood vessels and nerves around the brain to become inflamed. Many women have attacks linked to their menstrual cycles.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
People with migraine headaches may have very different symptoms, which can include:
-
Moderate to severe headache that lasts 4 to 72 hours, if untreated.
-
Throbbing pain, often on one side of the head
-
Increased pain after exercise or movement
-
Sensitivity to bright light, sound, and/or odors
-
Nausea or vomiting with the headache
One in five people with migraine have a warning before the headache. This is called an aura. You may see flashing lights, temporarily lose your sight, or go numb on one side of your body.
HOW IS MIGRAINE HEADACHE DIAGNOSED?
No medical test can tell you if you have migraine. You will need to provide details to your neurologist about your headache and your other symptoms. Your doctor will also perform a neurological exam. Often, no further testing is needed.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS?
Although there is no cure, migraine is treatable with proper medical care and self-management that:
-
Identifies and controls triggers that start a migraine
-
Uses medications to treat migraine attacks
-
Uses medications and other treatments to help prevent attacks
-
Encourages healthy behavior and Iifestyle changes
Keeping a headache diary is a valuable tool for treating migraine. It will help you work with your neurologist to identify triggers and track how drugs are working.
Discuss Acute Treatments
Acute treatments are used to stop an attack when it occurs and treat its symptoms. There are two types of acute treatments: pain relievers and drugs that stop the migraine, called abortive treatments.
Pain-relieving drugs include:
-
Nonprescription (over-the-counter) medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or a drug that combines acetaminophen with aspirin and caffeine
-
Prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics
Abortive treatments include:
-
Prescription drugs such as triptans and ergot alkaloids
Consider Preventive Treatments
Daily preventive medications are also available for people with frequent, debilitating headaches. They can also help if your treatment is not working or is causing side effects. They include:
-
Tricyclic antidepressants
-
Beta-blockers
-
Calcium channel blockers
-
Some anticonvulsants
-
Alternative treatments, such as vitamin B2, magnesium, and feverfew
-
Botulinum toxin injections into the scalp muscles
-
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
Talk to your doctor about when you can expect the treatment to start to work. Contact your doctor if your treatment is not working as well or if you need to use more acute medication. Overuse of acute drugs can lead to daily rebound headache.
Learn About Cognitive and Behavioral Treatments
Research has shown that some cognitive and behavioral treatments can help prevent migraine, including:
-
Relaxation training
-
Thermal biofeedback with relaxation training
-
Electromyographic biofeedback
-
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (also called stress-management training)
PARTNERING WITH YOUR DOCTOR
A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating, and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system. You need your doctor to know all about your symptoms and medical history. Then he or she can be more effective in diagnosing and treating your disorder. Likewise, you need to get answers to your questions. Diagnosing and managing your neurological disorder is a partnership between you and your neurologist.
Questions to ask your neurologist
-
What type of disorder do I have?
-
How will this disorder affect my health?
-
What is the treatment and what will it do?
-
How will this disorder affect my daily Iife and activities?
Understanding your disorder and treatment may make it easier to live with migraine.
For more information or make an appointment, please contact:
Mohsen M. Hamza, M.D.
Neurology Center for Adults & Children
Tel: 310-477-7201
info@neurologycenter.org
American Academy of Neurology
lnk