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Archive for the ‘Epilepsy’ Category

The symptoms of epilepsy vary depending on what kind of seizure the person has. Possibly the simplest way of explaining this is to give an overview of what the different kinds of seizure would look like to an observer and feel like to the person experiencing them.

Partial seizures are often called ‘petit mal’. To the outside observer, the signs of this are not obvious ones. In the simple partial seizure the person first has what is famously called an ‘aura’. This is actually the first part of the seizure activity. There is no loss of awareness however, which can make it seem like a separate phenomenon. The aura is not necessarily a set of lights shimmering in front of the person. It is equally likely to involve a sense of numbness or tingling in some part of the body. Alternatively, there may be a compulsive twitching start in the face of some other familiar part of the body. It can be very unpleasant, like nausea or increased heart rate. However, the aura has also been described as ecstatic and may come in the form of hallucinations that are considered by the person to be worth the pain of the seizure that will inevitably follow.

The next type of epileptic seizure is the complex partial seizure. To the observer, the epilepsy symptoms are obvious and disturbing. In this type of seizure the person does lose consciousness and they can proceed to behavior that is so odd and out of character that they can be a danger to themselves and others. This behavior can involve taking off clothes, doing strange random actions, walking around and mumbling. The variety is endless and quite individual and these seizures can last from 30 seconds to 3 minutes.

The more common conception of an epileptic seizure is of someone having a ‘fit’. This is the generalized tonic-clonic seizure, or ‘grand mal’ beginning with a sudden cry and a fall. The stiffening of the body that starts the process is called the tonic, the spasms and jerking that follow is called the clonic. This can look quite alarming, especially if the person manages to bite their tongue and blood appears. It usually lasts for only about 2 minutes, which can feel like an eternity if you are the onlooker. The person usually needs some care and reassurance when they come around as they are likely to feel confused and extremely tired after the epilepsy symptoms pass.

Finally there is a general group of tonic and myclonic seizures. The myoclonics involve significant muscle jerks, causing the person to spill what they are holding or even to fall off the chair. Among the tonic disorders here are two types of ‘drop’ attack, so called because they cause the person to fall to the ground if they happen to be standing. The ‘tonic’ causes the person to go rigid, while the ‘atonic’ predictably causes the person to lose all tone and also fall for that reason. In none of these last seizures is there any noticeable loss of consciousness.

Vitamin B8 is a water-soluble vitamin, which is not only widely distributed in food but also manufactured in the lower digestive tract of the human body. It is very stable when heated.

Benefits of Vitamin B8 -

* Vitamin B8 or biotin is imperative for a healthy immune system. It is necessary for the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats from food. It is also required for the utilization of proteins, folic acid and vitamin B 12.

* Vitamin B8 plays an important role DNA and RNA synthesis (genetic material), production of red blood cells and proper functioning of the nervous system.

* It is essential for the growth of healthy hair as well as prevents premature greying of the hair as well as hair loss. Biotin, found as an active ingredient in many of today’s shampoos and hair conditioners, is said to repair damaged hair and keep hair healthy.

* This vitamin also helps to maintain the skin in healthy condition. It helps to evenly distribute the colour pigment – melanin throughout the skin. Deficiency of this vitamin often leads to pigmentation problems.

* Required in the creation of glycogen, and is also essential in the making of fatty acids.

* Essential for pregnant women as it helps prevention of neural tube birth defects

* It has a significant role in red blood cell formation along with homocysteine metabolism (required for proper functioning of the heart). Deficiency of Vitamin B-8 results in megaloblastic anemia.

Deficiency of Vitamin B8 -

A deficiency in B8 is rare since it is widely available in food.

Not All Seizures Are Made the Same

Most people think of the grand mal or tonic-clonic seizure when they think of seizures. These are the types of seizures when the person falls to the ground and begins jerking and flailing in an uncontrolled manner.

But these constitute only a small proportion of the types of seizures that can afflict people. Often, there is just a small movement of a leg or arm. Or, at other types, the person may just “zone out” and appear to be daydreaming.

Whole Brain Seizures

During a whole brain seizure, a veritable “explosion” of electrical activity afflicts the entire brain. These are known as tonic-clonic seizures or, in an earlier parlance, grand mal seizures.

During these seizures, the person loses consciousness, no longer aware of anything around him. The seizure can last only a few minutes, or longer. He often loses control of his bladder. When he “wakes,” he has no memory of anything happening to him.

Absence Seizure or Petit Mal Seizure

These are a more minor version of the tonic-clonic or grand mal seizures. During these seizures, the person may lose total or partial consciousness but experiences none of the flailing and jerking associated with the tonic-clonic seizures. Here, the person often appears to be daydreaming or “zoning out.”

Simple Partial Seizures

Only a part of the brain is affected. The person feels that he is totally conscious. The person may experience odd smells or sounds, and when the simple partial seizure is finished, the person may feel sweaty and sick. There is often a warning sign prior to the seizure called an “aura.”

Complex Partial Seizures

The person may go into a dreamlike state. He or she seems to be awake but cannot respond to people. They may appear to be drunk or smack their lips. For the observer, this is a frightening type of seizure to experience as–unlike the tonic-clonic seizures–it is not immediately clear that the person is having a seizure.

Drugs can work very well for many people with epilepsy, which allows them to lead full and normal life. Other, easier to find resources, either because of side effects or simply because it does not work. While many take drugs to be effective, it is a fact that 20-30 percent of people with epilepsy do not respond well to drug therapy. If medication does not prove effective, your doctor may try a higher dose or different medicine or combination of two medicines.

Very rare fight epileptic drugs may lead to more frequent seizures. If this happens your doctor may check the diagnosis. Doctors usually start patients with epilepsy off the lowest dose of anti-epileptic, and then build it to reduce the side effects. What you need depends on various factors such as building and body, to influence how your body processes the medicine and how easy you are to treat epilepsy.

Too high a dose can cause toxicity. Symptoms of poisoning range from drug treatment. If a person gets too much phenytoin, they often become very unstable and may have more frequent seizures. Carbamazepine toxicity usually begins with double vision and drowsi

Temporal lobe epilepsy is a kind of partial seizure. The known causes for the disorder are meningitis and head injury. This type of seizure occurs in the deeper parts of the temporal lobe that handle emotions and memory aspects.

This kind of epilepsy is categorized as either simple or complex partial seizures. In simple partial seizures, the patient is aware of the self and the environment but experiences other symptoms involving, for example, the olfactory senses. On the other hand, patients with complex partial seizures become disabled. They become unaware of others and appear to be staring into space. Often, these patients are also seen performing repetitive movements such as licking lips, scratching and so on. They also tend to have sudden bouts of anger or agitation.

It is to be understood that experiences of temporal lobe seizures differ in intensity from person to person. Hence, explanation of the symptoms may not always be correct or possible. Patients run through a gamut of emotions and experiences lasting from a few seconds to a few minutes. These are called ‘auras’.

Magnetic resource imaging (MRI) is the most effective method for identifying lesions in the temporal lobe. It improves the success rate for surgeries to a great extent. EEG has not proved a useful technique to diagnose this type of epilepsy.

Temporal lobe epilepsy is treated with the anti-seizure drugs prescribed for other epilepsy types. These help in complete or near complete control of seizure attacks.

Surgery and Vagus Nerve Stimulation are also viable alternative epilepsy therapies.

Epilepsy is the most common neurological condition amongst dogs, affecting an estimated 5% of the canine population. A dog with epilepsy will begin to display symptoms between the age of 1 and 5 years. Epilepsy is a condition that causes the sufferer to experience seizures, which have no physical cause. It is believed to have genetic roots and is, therefore, particularly prevalent in some breeds such as the golden retriever and Labrador.

Of course, seizures can be indicative of a more serious condition such as a brain tumor or infection. Additionally, there is no test to confirm epilepsy. Subsequently, it is typically diagnosed after other possibilities have been discounted.

As with human epilepsy, canine epilepsy cannot be cured. However, owners can take measures to reduce the severity and frequency of a dog’s seizures. There are many opinions over the best way to manage canine epilepsy. Therefore, it is wise for owners to familiarize themselves with the treatment options and make a decision based on their dog’s specific symptoms.

Treatment

In many cases of mild to moderate epilepsy, owners may decide not to place their dog on medication. Mild or moderate seizures are typically harmless to the dog. Although seizures may appear distressing, the dog will recover quickly and have no memory of the incident. This, coupled with the side effects caused by some drugs, leads many owners to decline medication.

On the other hand, severe or cluster seizures can be more serious and in some cases life threatening. In this instance, the danger of the seizures will need to be balanced by potential side effects of medication. Although cessation of seizures is impossible, a dog’s epileptic fits and chances of brain damage or death should be dramatically reduced by available medication.

Some people believe that it is wise to treat a dog’s epilepsy as early as possible, even if the symptoms are relatively mild, to prevent kindling. Kindling is a theory, which states that if left untreated seizures worsen over time. Therefore, early treatment will reduce the number of epileptic fits and, subsequently, the severity of seizures over a dog’s lifetime.

Currently, there are many available drugs, including Phenobarbital and potassium bromide. Potassium bromide is believed to have relatively few side effects and has been used to control epilepsy in humans for over a hundred years. Phenobarbital is thought to offer better seizure management. However, it can cause liver damage, so it is imperative that a dog on this medication be checked every six months.

If you do choose to place your dog on anti-seizure medication, it is essential that you do not suddenly stop the medication. Instead, the drug should be gradually decreased over a matter of months. Additionally, it is advisable to seek the guidance of a vet.

Coping with a Seizure

Dogs’ seizures are very similar to that of humans. Therefore, the same rules apply: never move the dog (unless their location places them in immediate danger), do not try to restrain their movements.

Not all dogs experience seizures in the same way. For example, ‘absent seizures’ do not involve muscle convulsions; instead, the dog will be awake, but entirely unresponsive. Another common seizure is known as the ‘fly bite’ seizure, which causes the dog to bite the air around it. If your dog has epilepsy, it is a good idea to become familiar with its particular type of seizures and their severity. Any alterations should be cause for consultation with your veterinarian.

After a seizure, you should try to reassure your dog and keep him, or her, comfortable. Your dog will notice your stress, so it is crucial to remain calm. It is also advisable to check your dog’s temperature, as seizures can cause overheating. Additionally, your dog is likely to have experienced a drop in blood sugar. Therefore, some owners choose to offer their dog some vanilla ice cream to boost sugar and cool body temperature.