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While driving a car or taking a shower may seem like ordinary activities, those with epilepsy often live in fear of the next seizure and how it will impact their safety or ability to function at work or at home.
Epilepsy is a medical condition marked by reoccurring, unprovoked seizures. Approximately 200,000 adults and children are diagnosed with the disease each year.
“Seizures occur following a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain, which can cause a change in a person’s state of consciousness or uncontrolled movements,” said Frank Gilliam, M.D., director of Neurology for Geisinger Health System.
“While 1 in 10 Americans will experience a singular seizure in their lifetime, a diagnosis of epilepsy is given only when a patient experiences two or more seizures.”
According to Dr. Gilliam, epilepsy may be the result of abnormal brain wiring, a chemical imbalance, or a combination of both. Despite the cause, medical and surgical treatments are available to manage and treat this seizure disorder, allowing patients to live a seizure-free life.
Most people with a proper epilepsy diagnosis and treatment plan can easily control seizures with medications, as well as avoiding stressors and maintaining regular sleep cycles.
“The majority of seizures can be treated with medications. However, patients can elect surgical procedures to treat certain types of epilepsy. By detecting the specific location of abnormal brain activity, specially trained surgeons can remove damaged tissue and spare surrounding, healthy brain tissue,” said Dr. Gilliam.
In addition to resective surgery, or the removal of diseased tissue, Geisinger offers a state-of-the-art nerve stimulation procedure. A pacemaker is inserted in the side of the neck to regulate brain activity and reduce the frequency and severity of seizures.
“Today’s medications and innovative surgical procedures have enabled people living with epilepsy to reclaim their lives,” said Dr. Gilliam. “During November, National Epilepsy Awareness Month, it is critical to spread this simple message: If you or someone you know is experiencing repeated seizures, take the first step and seek medical treatment. It is indeed possible to lead a normal life with epilepsy.”
While driving a car or taking a shower may seem like ordinary activities, those with epilepsy often live in fear of the next seizure and how it will impact their safety or ability to function at work or at home.
Epilepsy is a medical condition marked by reoccurring, unprovoked seizures. Approximately 200,000 adults and children are diagnosed with the disease each year.
“Seizures occur following a sudden surge of electrical activity in the brain, which can cause a change in a person’s state of consciousness or uncontrolled movements,” said Frank Gilliam, M.D., director of Neurology for Geisinger Health System.
“While 1 in 10 Americans will experience a singular seizure in their lifetime, a diagnosis of epilepsy is given only when a patient experiences two or more seizures.”
According to Dr. Gilliam, epilepsy may be the result of abnormal brain wiring, a chemical imbalance, or a combination of both. Despite the cause, medical and surgical treatments are available to manage and treat this seizure disorder, allowing patients to live a seizure-free life.
Most people with a proper epilepsy diagnosis and treatment plan can easily control seizures with medications, as well as avoiding stressors and maintaining regular sleep cycles.
“The majority of seizures can be treated with medications. However, patients can elect surgical procedures to treat certain types of epilepsy. By detecting the specific location of abnormal brain activity, specially trained surgeons can remove damaged tissue and spare surrounding, healthy brain tissue,” said Dr. Gilliam.
In addition to resective surgery, or the removal of diseased tissue, Geisinger offers a state-of-the-art nerve stimulation procedure. A pacemaker is inserted in the side of the neck to regulate brain activity and reduce the frequency and severity of seizures.
“Today’s medications and innovative surgical procedures have enabled people living with epilepsy to reclaim their lives,” said Dr. Gilliam. “During November, National Epilepsy Awareness Month, it is critical to spread this simple message: If you or someone you know is experiencing repeated seizures, take the first step and seek medical treatment. It is indeed possible to lead a normal life with epilepsy.”
