Epilepsy

1. Epilepsy Alina Chow

2. What is epilepsy? Epilepsy is a disorder that causes seizures because of electrical surges sent to the brain. Symptoms may vary depending on the type of seizure experienced.

3. Symptoms Epilepsy is caused by abnormalities in the brain cells and can produce the following: Temporary confusion Staring blankly Uncontrollable jerking movements (seizure) Loss of consciousness or surroundings

4. Focal Seizures Complex seizures can make the person unconsciousness and/or lose awareness of their surroundings temporarily. These seizures can cause movements such as chewing without food, swallowing, or walking in circles. There happen because there is only abnormal activity in part of the brain. Simple seizures can change your emotions or what you see, smell, feel, taste, or hear (hallucinations). There may be tingling or flashing lights. These seizures do not cause loss of consciousness.

5. Generalized Seizures Atonic seizures cause the person to lose control of their body and collapse or fall Tonic-clonic seizures are the most intense seizures. They make the person lose consciousness, their body stiffens and shakes or twitches, they bite their tongue, and sometimes lose control of their bladder. These occur because the whole brain is affected by the abnormal activity. Absence seizures cause subtle movements and can cause temporary loss of awareness Tonic seizures can cause stiffening of the muscles and can cause the person to fall Clonic seizures can cause jerking muscles Myoclonic seizures can cause sudden jerks in the arms and/or legs

6. Works Cited Clinic, Mayo. "Epilepsy." Mayoclinic.com. 28 Apr. 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/epilepsy/DS00342/DSECTION=symptoms>. "Google." Google. Web. 18 Apr. 2012. <http://www.google.com/>.