Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures that are caused by abnormal cerebral nerve cell activity.

Epilepsy is a condition in which the sufferer has recurrent seizures. It is not a mental illness and its victims are no more likely to suffer mental illness than anyone else. Epilepsy occurs in about four people in 1000. In children, particularly under the age of three, convulsions indistinguishable from epilepsy may be brought on by a high temperature.

Causes of Epilepsy
An abnormal discharge of electrical activity from part of the brain. The electrical discharge can spread throughout the brain causing a grand mal seizure (one of the three main types of epilepsy). In many cases the cause of epilepsy is unknown. Causes which can be identified include: birth, injury, infection (meningitis or encephalitis), stroke, alcoholism, or drug abuse, brain tumour and degeneration of the brain in old age.

General Symptoms of a Seizure
- A convulsion with or without a fever
- Episodes of blank staring or periods of rapid eye blinking
- jerking movements of the arms and legs
- stiffening of the body
- falls for no apparent reason
- loss of consciousness
- breathing problems or breathing stops
- loss of bowel or bladder control
- not responding to noise or words for brief periods
- Dazed behavior; appearing confused
- Sudden fear, anger or panic for no reason
- sleepiness and irritable upon waking in the morning


Treatment at home
Lay the patient on his side, without a pillow. Loosen clothing around the neck. Make sure there is enough space around the patient so that he cannot injure himself. Do not try to prise open his mouth, or try to give fluids, or try to force anything between his teeth. Do not try to restrict his movements. Once the movements have stopped and the patient is asleep, make sure his airway is clear. Grasp him under the jaw and extend the neck.

Professional Treatment
Seek professional help or consult the doctor after a first convulsion; or if the convulsions last more than five minutes or are getting more frequent despite treatment. The doctor would examine the patient and confirm the diagnosis with brain tests such as an Electroencephalogram. He might prescribe anticonvulsant drugs.

Because epilepsy sometimes runs in the families intermarriage in two such families increases the risk of epilepsy in the offspring, and genetic counselling may be helpful. Sometimes, particularly in children, treatment can be stopped after a few years and fits do not recur. But usually treatment for life is advisable. Without treatment, seizures may continue and even become worse and more frequent over time. Not everyone who has seizures has epilepsy. Sometimes seizures happen because of an injury, illness, or another problem. Once epilepsy is diagnosed, it is important to begin treatment as soon as possible. For about 80 percent of those diagnosed with epilepsy, seizures can be controlled with modern medicines and surgical techniques.

Back Pain

Most people probably suffer back pain at some time in their lives, but in very few cases is it a symptom of serious disease. Back pain, however agonising, is usually the result of some minor strain or injury, and nearly 75% of the sufferers recover within a week and nearly 90% of the remainder within a month.

The lower spine is very mobile and can bend forwards, backwards, sideways and also rotate, and most cases of back pain are due to a minor upset in these movements. Pain can also come from the muscles round the spine which control the movement between the adjacent vertebrae and help the spine to bend and straighten.

This type of mechanically caused back pain is usually made worse by activity -- even coughing. It is eased by rest and the patient recovers with little treatment. Mechanical back pain tends to run in families and affect certain types of individuals. In addition there is usually an obvious cause, such as unaccustomed heavy manual work. These occasional heavy tasks should be undertaken with caution. Exercise protects against disease and relieves back pain -- exercises that keep spinal and abdominal muscles strong improve posture and help to prevent back pain. It thus help, to take a reasonable amount of moderate exercise in your lifestyle, particularly walking and swimming. Exercising just two or three times a week for periods of only 20 minutes will help keep you fit for life. However, any sudden or unusual form of exercise should be avoided. Infrequent bouts of intense physical activity are of little long-term benefit to your health. It is much more important that you persevere with a regular exercise routine. If you do not, all the benefits will be lost as your fitness begins to deteriorate.

In the majority of cases treatment consists of rest, the application of heat to the affected area and the taking of painkilling drugs, such as aspirin. Muscle-relaxing drugs, prescribed by a doctor, may also be helpful. Heat can be provided by a hot-water bottle or an electric pad. Many people obtain relief by sleeping on a firm base -- either by placing the mattress on the floor or by putting a hard board under the mattress.

If back pain lasts for more than two or three days, a doctor should be consulted. Even so, countless sufferes from back pain gain little from conventional treatment and seek the help of osteopaths, masseurs and other non-medical practitioners. Sometimes these treatments give relief, and not all doctors are opposed to them. But a doctor would normally advise a spinal X-ray before any form of treatment by manipulation.


Exercise over a long period of time will increase the efficiency of many organs within your body.