Seizure Disorder Definition Type Cause treatment And Prevention

Seizure Disorder 

Definition
A seizure is a sudden disruption of the brain's normal electrical activity accompanied by altered consciousness and/or other neurological and behavioral manifestations. Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures that may include repetitive muscle jerking called convulsions.

Type Of Seizure Disorder

There are two basic types of seizures:

• Epileptic: These seizures have no apparent cause  and occur repeatedly. These seizures are called a “seizure disorder” or “epilepsy.”
• Nonepileptic: These seizures are triggered (provoked) by a disorder or another condition that irritates the brain. In children, a fever can trigger a nonepileptic seizure.

Causes

The origin of 50-70% of all cases of epilepsy is unknown.

• Head trauma resulting from a car accident, gunshot wound, or other injury.
• Alcoholism
• Brain abscess or inflammation of membranes covering the brain or spinal cord
• Phenylketonuria (PKU, a disease that is present at birth, often is characterized by seizures, and can result in mental retardation) and other inherited disorders
• Infectious diseases like measles, mumps, and diphtheria
• Lead poisoning, mercury poisoning, carbon monoxide poisoning, or ingestion of some other poisonous substance
• Suddenly discontinuing anti-seizure medication
• Hypoxic or metabolic encephalopathy (brain disease resulting from lack of oxygen or malfunctioning of other physical or chemical processes)
• Acute head injury
• Blood infection caused by inflammation of the brain or the membranes that cover it

Symptoms:

• Chew or smack the lips involuntarily
• Move the hands, arms, and legs in strange, purposeless ways
• Utter meaningless sounds
• Have severe muscle spasms and jerking throughout the body
• Fall down
• Forcefully turn their head to one side
• Clench their teeth
• Bite their tongue (often occurs)
• Drool or froth at the mouth
• Lose bladder control

Treatment:
 Long-term anticonvulsant drug therapy is the most common form of epilepsy treatment.
Medication
A combination of drugs may be needed to control some symptoms, but most patients who have epilepsy take one of the following medications:

• Dilantin (phenytoin)
• Tegretol (carbamazepine)
• Barbita (phenobarbital)
• Mysoline (primidone)
• Depakene (valproic acid, sodium valproate)
• Klonopin (clonazepam)
• Zarontin (ethosuximide).

First aid for seizures:

• A person having a grand mal seizure should be helped to lie down.
• Tight clothing should be loosened. 
• A soft, flat object like a towel or the palm of a hand should be placed under the person's head.
• Forcing a hard object into the mouth of someone having a grand mal seizure could cause injuries or breathing problems. 
• If the person's mouth is open, placing a folded cloth or other soft object between his teeth will protect his tongue. 
• Turning his head to the side will help him breathe. 
• After a grand mal seizure has ended, the person who had the seizure should be told what has happened and reminded of where he is.

Prevention:

All Natural Supplementary 

• Eating properly.
• Getting enough sleep.
• Controlling stress and fevers can help prevent seizures. 
• A person who has epilepsy should be careful not to hyperventilate. 
• A person who experiences an aura should find a safe place to lie down and stay there until the seizure passes. 
• Anticonvulsant medications should not be stopped suddenly and, if other medications are prescribed or discontinued, the doctor treating the seizures should be notified.
• In some conditions, such as severe head injury, brain surgery, or subarachnoid hemorrhage, anticonvulsant medications may be given to the patient to prevent seizures.