Seizure And Its Long-Term Effects
Seizures are abnormal electrical spurs from nerves in the brain, which controls physical actions, psychological responses, feelings and some operations of the major organs.
Any form of seizure can be terrifying and disturbing. Safety is a main concern with these seizures and safety measures should be imposed. It is also essential to think about the long-term effects that seizures may have on the wellbeing and lifestyle of a person.
Mostly, seizures are treated with medications and at times, can be stabilized with the aid of brain surgery. Time and again, it is undecided if the remedies or the seizures themselves bring about some of the long-term effects on a person’s brain and general health.
However, there is no evidence that one of the most common types of seizure in children called febrile seizure causes damage to the brain. Extensive researches found out that children who experienced febrile seizures have the common education attainment and complete as well on academic examinations as their siblings who do not have seizure disorders. Also, a good number of children recuperate fully after the infrequent cases of especially prolonged seizures which last for more than an hour.
A study done by the University of Maryland Medical Center stated that those patients who are capable of controlling their seizures with medicines tend to have few recurrences in the long run. Moreover, patients are further at risk for injuries from seizures than they are of acquiring long-term mental consequences.
Survival rates of patients who can control their seizures with medications or via surgery are higher on the whole compared to those who are incapable of controlling them. This is somewhat because of the detrimental effects of accidents and sometimes, suicides. Fortunately, the threat of sudden death is quite low.
The long-term effects that some patients do experience can differ because of the different underlying source of the seizures themselves. A study affirms that the younger an individual is when the seizures begin, the further extensive the brain region is affected, resulting to inferior findings.
And when seizures are unmanageable, effects on intelligence are greater. Furthermore, children are more likely to have behavior and conduct troubles, education difficulties and speech issues with specific epileptic seizures.
A third of adults with seizure disorders have several forms of depression. As a result, they are more prone to commit suicide. This can be associated with other psychiatric issues plus drug and alcohol abuse. Adding up to these threats is that a number of anti-seizure treatments can have side effects of suicidal thinking and actions. What’s more, the medications have been known to cause osteoporosis and alterations in weight.
The study from the same institution also said that childhood epilepsy can have an effect like hormonal disturbances in puberty and adults who experience seizures may have different sexual problems and dysfunctions. In 1998, a study was conducted and showed a 33% lower fertility rate in women with seizures. However, it is still uncertain if it is the demonstration of the seizure disorder which causes this or the anti-seizure treatments.
On the other hand, most of the patients who can be free from seizure after two years of taking medications go on to lead fit and well lives. Regrettably, patients that are unable to control their seizures have the possibility of developing persistent epilepsy, which is much more difficult to manage and cure.
Generally, seizures which last for just a short period do not have any significant long-term consequences. Twenty minutes is regarded as a cutoff point and half an hour status presents a higher occurrence of problems. More often than not, seizures which are seldom and momentary will not cause any long-term effects.
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