What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a problem with your brain’s electrical system. It is a chronic disorder characterized by the recurrence of unpredictable seizures that can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.
Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder and can develop in any person at any age, but is more common in children and older adults.
The seizures in epilepsy may be related to a severe head injury, a neurological condition, such as a brain tumor, stroke or Alzheimer’s disease, or the cause may be completely unknown.
How do I know if I’ve had a seizure?
There are many different types of epilepsy, and seizure symptoms vary widely. Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others repeatedly twitch their arms or legs. Having a single seizure doesn't mean you have epilepsy. At least two unprovoked seizures are generally required for an epilepsy diagnosis.
Our epilepsy services
At St. Charles, our goal is to help you manage your seizures and medicines so you can have the best possible quality of life. This starts with proper diagnosis.
You may be referred to our Neurodiagnostic Lab for a test called an electroencephalogram (EEG) to confirm a diagnosis and to get more information about your seizures.
An EEG is a painless procedure that records your brain’s electrical activity as wavy lines. The pattern changes during a seizure and may show which part of the brain is affected. The results can help your neurology care team guide your treatment.
Epilepsy treatment at St. Charles
Your neurological care team will create a treatment plan for you designed to control your seizures as much as possible. It is also important to get your medications right, so you can enjoy as many activities as possible. Your doctor will listen to your goals for treatment and consider:
For the majority of people with epilepsy, treatment with medications can control their seizures, although there are other approaches, including surgery, neurostimulation devices and dietary therapy. While some people require lifelong treatment to control seizures, the seizures among others eventually go away. Some children with epilepsy outgrow the condition with age.
