What are Seizures? And whats the link to Epilepsy? #EpilepsyExplained

Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent seizures, but not all seizures indicate epilepsy. Understanding the relationship between seizures and epilepsy is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

In the words of Dr. Robert S. Fisher, “A seizure is the event…whereas epilepsy is the condition of seizures that spontaneously come back on their own.” Therefore, it’s possible to experience a seizure (such as a febrile seizure) and not have epilepsy. A person is considered to have epilepsy if they have two or more unprovoked seizures more than 24 hours apart or if they have one seizure with a probability of having future seizures.

Dr. Kristen Park, Pediatric Neurologist at Children’s Hospital of Colorado, explains the basics of seizures in easy-to-understand language intended to help those living with epilepsy, their family, and friends better understand this often confusing and misunderstood condition that impacts 1 in 26 Americans and 65 million people worldwide.

In this episode, entitled “Seizures Explained”, Dr. Park answers the following questions.

0:00 What are Seizures?

0:16 What happens in the brain when a seizure occurs?

1:57 What is the difference between seizures and epilepsy?

4:09 How many different types of seizures are there?

6:20 How long does a seizure last?

8:05 What are the phases of a seizure?

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CURE Epilepsy is the leading, non-governmental funder of epilepsy research. Since its inception in 1998, CURE Epilepsy has raised more than $90 million to fund epilepsy research and other initiatives that will lead the way to cures for the epilepsies. CURE Epilepsy funds grants for young and established investigators and to–date has awarded more than 285 cutting-edge projects in 18 countries around the world. Our mission is to find a cure for epilepsy, by promoting and funding patient-focused research.

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#seizures #epilepsy #epilepsyawareness #neuroscience #brainhealth

[josephmolieri]

This was very informative. Thank you for giving this brief but thorough overview.

[laurenl]

Great video, was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 18, 37.5 now. Had to watch these videos, but I dunno much about it.

[sbaby-nphy]

I had my first seizure at 2 years old was medivaced to the hospital and put on phenobarbital I was finally taken off of it and went years without any seizures and then started having simple partial seizures in school didn't know what they were because all I kept saying to my mom was I get this funny feeling in my stomach and I'll see my teacher's mouth moving but I can't hear them and she suffered from seizures herself and she had an aura of deja vu she was like I don't know I don't understand long story short she finally saw me have one I was taken down to Philadelphia Pennsylvania to the Children's Hospital Philadelphia and was diagnosed at 17 years old in 2004 with simple partial seizures with epilepsy and I've had seizures ever since on three different kinds of seizure medicines now the best explanation of exactly what a seizure is to me was a neurologist I had in the past when I was first diagnosed with my seizures told me it's an electrical thunderstorm in your brain that's the easiest and most direct way of explaining to someone what seizures are.

[rwwilson]

Having seizures, both Grand Mal and Absence seizures, a better explanation of a seizure is a computer malfunction.

[MosalaMoses]

DR epilepsy can be cured or it's I life time?

[Kevn]

Hi, my 20 month old son had a seizure few days ago(less than 2 mins). He had a mild fever and after the seizure his fever shot up. The doctors took his eeg and noted that he has occassional central epileptiform abnormality. Right now he's on medication. Can someone please help me? I am in a lot of stress and I don't know what to expect. It seems we have a family history of seizures also. Am I to expect the worst?