Epilepsy is a condition that affects people of all ages and has a significant impact on daily life. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), this neurological disorder affects around 50 million people worldwide. Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder which is identified by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. These seizures result from sudden, excessive electrical discharges in a group of brain cells. But how does it occur? How to identify if it's an epilepsy seizure?

We got in touch with Dr Aditya Gupta, Director of Neurosurgery and Cyberknife at Artemis Hospital Gurugram who shares how to identify an epilepsy seizure and ways to manage it effectively.

What Is Epilepsy?

Dr Aditya Gupta shares that recurrent seizures, or abrupt spikes in the brain's electrical activity that momentarily impair function, are a symptom of epilepsy. There is a wide range of variations in seizures, from muscular jerks or momentary attention deficits to severe and protracted convulsions. Numerous factors, such as genetic predispositions, brain trauma, infections, developmental disorders, and anatomical abnormalities of the brain, can result in epilepsy. Despite having a variety of causes, epilepsy is often identified when a person has experienced two or more unprovoked seizures.

How to Identify An Epilepsy Seizure?

Dr Aditya Gupta explains recognizing the signs of a seizure is crucial for providing timely assistance and care. Seizures can occur in different ways, but common signs include:

- Tonic Generalized-Clonic seizures: These entail an abrupt loss of consciousness, which is followed by a tonic phase (muscle stiffness) and a clonic phase (rhythmic contractions) of the muscles. When most people think about seizures, they usually think of this kind.

- Absence Seizures: These seizures are indicated by momentary losses in awareness and can make a person appear to be staring into space. These are frequent in kids and usually go away in a matter of seconds.

- Atonic Seizures: An abrupt loss of muscular tone that results in a person collapsing or falling.

- Myoclonic seizures: Shock-like, quick spasms in one or more muscles.

- Focal Seizures: These seizures originate in a single brain region and, depending on the affected area, might result in a variety of symptoms, including twitching, altered sensation, or emotional disruptions.

Ways To Manage Epilepsy

Dr Aditya Gupta shares that managing epilepsy involves a combination of medication, lifestyle adjustments, and sometimes surgical interventions. Key strategies include:

- Medication: The mainstay of treatment for managing seizures is the use of anti-epileptic medicines or AEDs. The kind of seizures and the patient's reaction to the medication determine the exact prescription and dosage.

- Lifestyle Modifications: You may manage your epilepsy by getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding triggers like stress and flashing lights. Maintaining a seizure journal is also helpful for identifying and avoiding seizure triggers.

- Safety Measures: People with epilepsy should take safety measures, such as wearing medical alert bracelets, avoiding risky activities (like swimming alone), and making sure their house is safe, to reduce the chance of injury during a seizure.

- Surgical Options: For those who do not respond to medication, surgery to remove the area of the brain where seizures originate may be considered. Other surgical options include procedures to interrupt nerve pathways that allow seizures to spread.

- Support and Education: Joining support groups and educating family, friends, and employers about epilepsy can provide emotional support and reduce the social stigma associated with the condition.