Epilepsy: Chronic Seizures

A seizure is a terrifying event when a victim knows that one might be coming, but it is even worse for a first-time epileptic who has no idea what is wrong with their body. Epilepsy, which is a brain disorder causing recurring – and often life-threatening – seizures, is an illness affecting approximately .5% of the American population.

Most people know what epilepsy is, but very few understand what causes seizures, and how many types of seizures there really are. The possible causes for a seizure are equally as diverse, and doctors often have trouble pinning down the precise reason for a seizure in a particular patient’s case.

Seizures, no matter what the cause, are triggered by abnormal electrical excitation in the brain. This causes a disturbance in brain function, and can lead to any one of numerous types of seizures. Seizures range from mild to extreme, and in rare cases, a victim might not even realize that they are having one.

CAUSES

1. Temporary Seizures

There are several cases in which seizures might be a temporary problem, and might not develop into epilepsy, which is a chronic (ongoing) disorder. Temporary causes are usually traumatic instances that severely affect the electrical impulses to the brain. Although they are temporary, they are no less severe than epileptic seizures, and should be treated immediately by a qualified physician.

One of the most common stimuli for temporary seizures is drug use. This is sometimes referred to as a “bad trip” in which an individual takes an illegal narcotic and experiences negative side effects on top of the effects of the drug. Seizures are a common side effect to drugs like Acid, Heroine and Cocaine, and usually stop once the “high” ends. Drug withdrawal can also spawn seizures, though not as commonly as drug use.