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Understanding Epilepsy: Causes, Symptoms, and Seizures

Learn about epilepsy, a disorder of the brain characterized by recurrent seizures. Discover the causes, symptoms, and types of seizures associated with epilepsy. Find out how to recognize and assist someone having a seizure. Get insights into diagnosing epilepsy through EEG and other tests.

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Understanding Epilepsy: Causes, Symptoms, and Seizures

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  1. Brain Diseases and Disorders Mrs. Frasca

  2. Background: How the Brain Works • Brain is made of many cells, some of these cells are called “neurons” • Neurons branch out like trees • These branches create a network of communication • This communication takes place within the brain and also from the brain to the rest of the body

  3. Background: How the Brain Works • When a neuron “fires”, it sends a small electrical signal along one of its branches • The brain’s ability to turn these signals “on” and “off” allows it to control messages and to function efficiently • Example: if your hand touches a hot stove, your branch quickly send your hand a message to pull away

  4. How the Brain Works: Activity • Messages sent from the brain are very similar to the childhood game “telephone” • These messages, however, are sent SUPER FAST!!! • Let’s see how well we can work as neurons transmitting a message

  5. Background: How the Brain Works • Since normal behavior is the result of many neurons working together, a fine balance of excitatory and inhibitory factors are required • In people with Epilepsy, however, this balance is disrupted • When too many neurons fire at once, an electrical “storm” is created in the brain

  6. Video: Epilepsy • What happens in the brain during Epilepsy: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJOC_ZGKDr8 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj7ta8aRIkY&feature=related

  7. Understanding Epilepsy • What is Epilepsy? • Refers to many disorders in which people experience multiple seizures • Must experience 2 or more seizures in order to be diagnosed with Epilepsy

  8. What Causes Epilepsy? • Epilepsy can be: • Symptomatic • This means it is a symptom of another problem • Ex: birth injury, head injury, stroke, brain tumor, infection, etc. • Genetic • Passed down in the family • The cause for most cases of Epilepsy, however, is still unknown

  9. What is a Seizure? • An excessive discharge of electrical activity within the brain • This leads to change in movement, sensation, experience, or consciousness • Severity of seizures can range GREATLY • Depends on where in the brain it begins and to where it spreads

  10. What is a Seizure? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNQlq004FkE

  11. Epilepsy: Seizures • Seizures can cause: • Twitching muscles • Convulsing movements • Tingling sensations • Sweating • Perception of smell or taste • Hallucinations • Loss of consciousness • Other changes

  12. Epilepsy: Seizures • Phases of a seizure • Aura • An unusual or peculiar feeling often felt before a seizure • Ictus • The entire seizure • Post-ictus • Time after seizure, may experience muscle weakness or deep sleep

  13. Generalized Seizures • Affect both hemispheres of the brain at once • Generally no aura at the beginning

  14. Generalized Seizures • Main forms of Generalized Seizures • Absence Seizures • Brief episodes of impaired awareness • May be small motor movements, changes in automatic behaviors/muscle tone • Atonic Seizures • Sudden loss of muscle tone in a limb or in whole body • Myoclonic Seizures • Sudden shock-like jolt through muscles causes involuntary movement (like those that occur in healthy people sometimes when you sleep) • Tonic-clonic Seizures • Formerly called “grand mal” • Starts with loss of consciousness • Body stiffens (tonic phase) • Muscles start rhythmically jerking (clonic phase)

  15. Video: Seizures • These videos are meant for educational purposes…if you do not feel that you can watch them in a mature manner, please leave the room. • Absence Seizure • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HiKwTm755o • Atonic Seizure • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9obFVWW47NE • Myoclonic Seizure • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPNVYFRhthg

  16. Generalized Seizures

  17. Partial Seizures • Begin in a part of one hemisphere (usually in the temporal or frontal lobe) • 2 types of partial seizures are called simple and complex

  18. Partial Seizures • Main forms of Partial Seizures • Simple • Occurs in 1 part of brain • Person remains alert and remembers what happened after • Can affect muscle activity, any of the 5 senses, heart rate, breathing, emotions

  19. Partial Seizures • Main forms of Partial Seizures • Complex • Impaired consciousness and recall • May also involve: staring and automatic behaviors such as walking, repeating words/phrases, chewing, grunting, etc.

  20. If Someone Has a Seizure • Stay calm • Call 911 • If possible, remove the person from any hazards • If on the ground, carefully turn them onto their sides • Do NOT place anything in their mouth • Do NOT try to restrain them

  21. Diagnosing Epilepsy • A patient would need the following in order to diagnose epilepsy: • EEG (electroencephalogram) • Measures electrical activity in the brain • Complete physical • Blood and urine tests • Test of all senses to try and determine what is causing seizures • Analysis of any current medications • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) • Imaging of the brain

  22. Seizures and Dogs • Amazingly, dogs have been trained to aid in the event of a seizure • The dogs can be trained to alert, assist, or respond to human seizures • Although some people believe that dogs can “sense” the impending seizure, they are actually just much more in tuned to subtle changes in our body behavior and can be trained to notify a person of these tiny signs

  23. Video: Seizures • Here is a video of a dog experiencing a partial seizure: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4PMMrmiEAs • This is a short video of a dog experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8l4lLxI3I4

  24. Video: Epilepsy • This documentary outlines a very severe case of Epilepsy and shows the permanent brain damage that this disorder can cause. • Please be sensitive when watching this video. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgNbdV2Mwxc

  25. Assignment or Activity • Pause here for student assignments and activities regarding Epilepsy and seizures

  26. Multiple Sclerosis • What is Multiple Sclerosis? • Known as MS • Autoimmune disease (this means that the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues) • Attacks the protective layer of the Central Nervous System known as Myelin Sheath

  27. Quick Background: The Nervous System • Nerves (neurons) act as the body’s messenger system • MS attacks these nerve cells • If the nervous system is damaged, a person will lose the ability to send messages through out the body and function normally

  28. Myelin Sheath • Myelin Sheath • Surrounds and protects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal chord • Allows the body to send electrical signals far distances in the body • (it is like the outside of an electrical wire….that is being destroyed)

  29. Multiple Sclerosis

  30. Multiple Sclerosis • Myelin Sheath covers nerves in Nervous System • Myelin Sheath damaged Nerves are damaged • When nerves are damaged  Signals are slowed or stopped • Brain tissue can slowly deteriorate

  31. Multiple Sclerosis: Video • This short video helps to better explain Multiple Sclerosis: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgySDmRRzxY

  32. Results of MS • Brain loses ability to transmit signals to rest of body • Results in complete or partial loss of functions • Loss of: muscle control, vision, balance, and sensation • Symptoms can be mild (numbness of limb) or they can be severe (paralysis or loss of vision) • **The progress, severity, and symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from person to person**

  33. MS: Signs and Symptoms • Early symptoms of MS may include: • Tingling, numbness, or pain • Double vision, blurry vision, or blindness • Weakness, dizziness, and fatigue • Later symptoms of MS (during relapse): • Muscle spasms • Slurred speech • Blindness • Paralysis • Confusion and forgetfulness

  34. Causes of MS • It is unknown exactly what causes MS • Research continues: • Immune system • Which cells are given command to attack • Genetic factors • Early Infection • Environmental factors • More common in people further from the Equator

  35. Types of MS • Benign MS • Minimal to no disability • Very few attacks • Usually return to “normal” between attacks • Relapsing-Remitting MS • Repetitive attacks followed by periods of remission (recovery period) • Usually develops into Secondary Progressive MS (see below) • Secondary Progressive MS • Repetitive attacks followed by partial recoveries • Partial recovery time progressively keeps getting worse until the permanent disability appears • Primary Progressive MS • Slow and steady progression of disabilities • No recovery times • Symptoms progressively get worse with no decrease in intensity

  36. Types of Multiple Scelorsis

  37. MS: Prevention and Management • There is no cure or prevention for MS • There are, however, several drugs that can help manage symptoms and reduce attacks • People with MS should also: • Practice healthy lifestyles • Get enough rest • Exercise regularly • Eat a well-balanced diet • Practice relaxation techniques

  38. Multiple Sclerosis

  39. Video: MS • E60: Catching Kayla • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdLEmE138xA

  40. Assignment and Activities • Pause here for student assignments and activities regarding Multiple Sclerosis

  41. Parkinson’s Disease • What is Parkinson’s Disease? • Slowly progressive, degenerative disease of the brain • For reasons not yet understood, nerve cells in the SubstantiaNigrabegin to die (this is just an area of the brain) • The nerve cells that are dying are the ones in charge of producing dopamine • Once 80% of dopamine is lost, symptoms begin

  42. Why Do We Need Dopamine? • Dopamine is a chemical used by nerve cells to control muscle movement • Without dopamine, nerve cells cannot send smooth messages • Muscle function begins to deteriorate • Damage gets worse with time

  43. Parkinson’s Disease • Why is it called “Parkinson’s Disease”? • In 1817, an English physician named Dr. James Parkinson discovered the disease and named it “Shaking Palsy” • Eventually, the disease was named after him

  44. Parkinson’s Disease: Symptoms • Symptoms: • Tremors • Involuntary shaking (most prominent during resting state) • Bradykinesia • Slowness of movement, decreased blinking, drooling, lack of expression • Rigidity • Stiffness, increase in muscle tone • Postural Instability • Problems with balancing, tendency to fall

  45. Parkinson’s Disease: Symptoms

  46. Parkinson’s Disease • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu4eTijdIv0 • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-6-mw4wJXc

  47. Parkinson’s Disease: How it Works • The balance of dopamine in the body ensures smooth, coordinated movement • In PD, however, the dopamine-producing nerves are dying • Not enough dopamine is available to carry messages smoothly from the brain to the muscles • This causes the tremors, slow movement, awkward stiffness, etc.

  48. Parkinson’s Disease: Treatment and Management • There is no cure for PD • Treatment can be given for specific symptoms • Medication • Surgery • Lifestyle modifications • Physical therapy • Occupational therapy • Speech therapy Research continues to work hard towards discovering a cure for Parkinson’s Disease.

  49. Video • Parkinson’s Disease • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yCgLythe00 • Muhammad Ali lights the 1996 Olympic torch in Atlanta, GA • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEhNDUwksvU • Michael J. Fox and his description of living with Parkinson’s Disease: • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECkPVTZlfP8

  50. Activity: Fun Facts About the Brain • Go to the following website: • http://www.nursingassistantcentral.com/blog/2008/100-fascinating-facts-you-never-knew-about-the-human-brain/ • On this site you will find 100 facts about the human brain!!! • Choose the 10 that you find MOST INTERESTING • Record them on a sheet of paper • Be prepared to share with the class 

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