Epilepsy (Seizures)

Epilepsy, commonly known as seizures, is characterized by fainting episodes. However, detailed research has shown that some forms of epilepsy do not involve falling. Known since ancient times, epilepsy has long been considered a serious condition.

Over a thousand years ago in ancient Greece, epilepsy was called the "sacred disease" (morbus sacer), believed to endow sufferers with unique spiritual abilities. Many notable historical figures had epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a disorder caused by excessive irritation in part of the brain’s cortex, leading to loss of consciousness and bodily convulsions. Various causes, such as brain tumors, infections of the brain or meninges, poisoning, or head injuries, can trigger this state. Identifying the cause of symptomatic epilepsy is critical for determining treatment. Unfortunately, the causes of every epilepsy case, especially genuine (idiopathic) epilepsy, are not fully understood.

If epilepsy runs in the family, the likelihood of it appearing in the next generation increases, though healthy children can be born to parents with epilepsy. The inheritance pattern is unclear, making it difficult to advise parents. For instance, a patient whose father had epilepsy was found to have developed it due to a head injury during a difficult birth, not heredity.

Laypeople often believe epilepsy manifests only in seizures, but this is not true. Many patients experience changes in personality and behavior. Severe epileptics may be mentally slow, speak slowly and at length, and fixate on one topic, making communication difficult. They may also be socially disruptive due to their slowness and psychological inflexibility.

Another trait is irritability; epileptics are highly sensitive and easily offended, with irritability occurring intermittently or constantly. In tense states, minor triggers can lead to sharp reactions, physical confrontations, or vengeful behavior.

This century has seen significant progress in understanding epilepsy. The invention of the electroencephalograph (EEG) allows recording of the body’s electrical brain waves. This painless procedure, similar to an electrocardiogram (EKG) for heart activity, uses metal plates to measure electrical activity. For EEG, plates are placed on the head via a special cap. Research has identified epileptic brain waves in conditions not previously linked to epilepsy, such as certain headaches or behavioral disorders.

During a seizure, the patient pales, foams at the mouth, collapses, clenches their teeth (potentially biting their tongue), and loses consciousness without feeling pain. The body and limbs experience rhythmic or semi-rhythmic convulsions that gradually subside. The lips may turn blue, and breathing becomes irregular. Seizures last from 30 seconds to a few minutes. Afterward, the patient slowly regains consciousness, feeling exhausted, weak, or drained, sometimes falling into a deep sleep lasting minutes to hours before feeling normal again.

Grand mal seizures occur suddenly, during wakefulness or sleep, in any situation. Due to their abrupt nature, patients risk serious injury if they fall near hazards like stoves, vehicles, or machinery, potentially leading to fatal outcomes. The fear patients feel is justified, as while seizures themselves are not deadly, associated circumstances can be.

The intervals between seizures vary greatly, from multiple seizures in a day to gaps of weeks or years, occurring regularly or irregularly. If seizures occur so rapidly that the patient doesn’t regain consciousness between them, this is called status epilepticus, a medical emergency requiring immediate hospitalization due to the risk of exhaustion and death.

Grand mal seizures are common, but other conditions, like hysteria, can cause similar dramatic episodes with reduced consciousness. Unlike epileptic seizures, hysterical seizures don’t occur during sleep, typically happen in the presence of others, involve non-rhythmic limb movements, and may include speech or shouting, as if the patient is reliving a scene.

Patients must understand treatment protocols, as their cooperation is essential. Medications must be taken consistently, as the false belief that the disease disappears between seizures can lead to treatment interruptions and worsening symptoms. Abruptly stopping medication can exacerbate the condition, and patients who do so often wrongly blame the medication instead of their non-compliance.

Symptomatic epilepsy is treated by addressing the cause. For example, treating alcoholism can reduce or eliminate seizures in alcoholics. Surgery may cure epilepsy caused by head injuries or tumors, though this isn’t always possible, requiring additional anti-seizure medications.

Genuine epilepsy lacks universal treatment rules. Finding the best medication requires prolonged collaboration between doctor and patient, often taking weeks or months to determine the right drug and dosage. Even during stable periods, patients need regular checkups, including EEGs, for monitoring and advice.

Treatment is often long-term or lifelong. Complete elimination of the disease is rare. In folk medicine, herbal extracts are used, some of which contain beneficial ingredients.