known cause. At that point, your doctor will still recommend blood and imaging tests to rule out other conditions such as liver disease, heart disease, brain tumors, infectious disease, or diabetes. An Electroencephalogram (EEG) is also integral to diagnosing an epileptic condition so be prepared for that test.
Furthermore, you’ll undergo a thorough medical examination to determine if your motor skills and mental function have been affected.
During this exam, it will be helpful to disclose any factors that might have led up to the seizure if you have that information. Common causes of epileptic seizures can include stress, caffeine, bright or flashing lights, lack of sleep, or certain foods.
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Management Options For Epilepsy
There are a variety of options for managing epilepsy. The first of these is anticonvulsant or antiseizure medications such as levetiracetam (Keppra), lamotrigine (Lamictal), topiramate (Topamax), valproic acid (Depakote), carbamazepine (Tegretol), and ethosuximide (Zarontin).
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, a doctor is likely to prescribe a combination of drugs to keep things under control. You may also receive the lowest dosage possible when starting out.
Other options include different types of surgery. In one minor operation, a vagus stimulator is placed right under the skin in the chest. This device is helpful for preventing seizures as it stimulates an important nerve. The more invasive surgeries would involve directly removing or modifying parts of the brain that are connected with your seizures.
In addition to taking your medication as prescribed, there are a few precautions you’ll need to take when living with epilepsy. It will be important to avoid seizure triggers so keeping a journal of things that affect you in that way will help. Some health experts also recommend trying a ketogenic diet as it has been shown to be beneficial.
It’s true that epilepsy can be a lot to deal with, but with the right treatment program, it can be easily managed. More importantly, certain researchers are constantly working on more effective medications as well as preventive care so people have fewer seizures.