11 Things We Learned About Epilepsy From a Twitter Chat
You can learn a lot in a 140 characters.
Dr. Richard Besser is ABC News’s Chief Health and Medical editor. He wrote a book called “Tell Me The Truth, Doctor” explaining common medical questions, and he provides analysis and reports for ABC’s platforms. Off-camera, he holds Twitter chats every Tuesday at 1 p.m. EST.
This week’s chat focused on epilepsy, a neurological condition that’s also known as a seizure disorder. It affects 65 million people worldwide, according to The Epilepsy Foundation.
Other relevant stories:
• Epilepsy Triggers
• Can Flashing Lights Cause Seizures Without Epilepsy
• Can Students with Epilepsy Participate in Sports
We saw a lot of interesting, important questions pop up throughout Besser’s chat. Below are 13 things we learned about epilepsy, with answers from some of the top epilepsy researchers, organizations and awareness groups:
Answer: “Seizures are a change in body movement or function, sensation, awareness or behavior.” — Center for Disease Control
T1 #Seizures are a change in body movement or function, sensation, awareness, or behavior. #epilepsy #abcDRBchat http://t.co/Z67T7vCeYZ
— CDCChronic (@CDCChronic) July 14, 2015
Epilepsy is a central nervous system disorder that can cause seizures or periods of unusual behavior. “Seizure symptoms can vary widely,” according to the Mayo Clinic. “Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others repeatedly twitch their arms or legs.”
2. “What are the leading causes of seizures?”
Answer: “Seizures can be associated with any injury or toxic effect on the brain.” — Temple Health News
T2 Seizures can be associated with any injury or toxic effect on the brain #abcDRBchat
— Temple Health News (@TempleMedNews) July 14, 2015
While head trauma can cause seizures, other factors such as fever, poisoning, heart disease, meningitis, and drug abuse can also cause seizures, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. For some people, however, there is no clear cause found for their epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.
Answer: “[A febrile seizure is] convulsions brought on by a fever in infants or small children, and one in 25 children will have it.” — Tatiana Kelil, MD
T3: convulsions brought on by a fever in infants or small children, 1 in 25 children will have it #abcdrbchat
— Tatiana Kelil, MD (@TatianaKelil) July 14, 2015
Febrile seizures usually happen on the first day of a child’s fever, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke. These seizures are most common for children ranging in age from 6 months old to 5 years old.
4. “Who is most likely to have seizures and/or epilepsy? Is epilepsy on the rise? Any risk factors?”
Answer: “When counting both children and adults, epilepsy affects about 2.9 million people in the U.S.” — CDC
T4: When counting both children & adults, #epilepsy affects about 2.9 million people in the U.S. #abcDRBchat http://t.co/5tnTlFp0Kb
— CDCChronic (@CDCChronic) July 14, 2015
While about 2.9 million people have active epilepsy in the U.S., 5.1 million people in the country have an epilepsy or seizure disorder diagnosis, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s analysis of data from 2013.
5. “What is the natural history of epilepsy? Of an isolated seizure? Do many outgrow it?”
Answer: “Without focusing on etiology, approximately 50% of children will outgrow their epilepsy.” — Beaumont Health System
T5 Without focusing on the etiology, approx. 50% of children will out grow their #epilepsy. #abcdrbchat
— Beaumont Health (@BeaumontHealth) July 14, 2015
Children are more likely to outgrow their seizures if they have normal development, a normal EEG, a normal MRI, no other neurological problems and if the seizures are easily controlled with medication, according to Nationwide Children’s. But epilepsy varies among individuals and can range anywhere from a few months to a lifelong condition, according to University of Iowa Health Care.
6. “How do you diagnose a seizure? Epilepsy?”
Answer: “Definite diagnosis by video EEG monitoring.” — Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
T6: Definite diagnosis by video EEG monitoring #abcdrbchat
— Jamaica Hospital (@JamaicaHospital) July 14, 2015
Another way to diagnose epilepsy includes, “complete neurological consultation for epilepsy and related conditions,” according to John Hopkins Medicine.
7. “How do you treat a seizure? How do you treat epilepsy? Is surgery ever used for epilepsy?”
Answer: “Medications are the first treatment for epilepsy and seizures.” — Epilepsy Foundation
T7 #Medications are first treatment for #epilepsy & #seizures http://t.co/Fr6axW9m4n #abcDrBchat
— Epilepsy Foundation (@EpilepsyFdn) July 14, 2015
If a person’s epilepsy doesn’t respond to medicine after two drug trials, the term “drug resistant epilepsy” is used, according to The Epilepsy Foundation. If a person has tried two or more epilepsy medications without a good response, the foundation recommends he or she seeks further help from a specialist. Some people with epilepsy can have surgery if their seizures are caused by structural brain problems, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Additionally, some patients can affect their epilepsy through diet, a common one being a high-fat, low-carb diet called the ketogenic diet.
Answer: “Driving, working, managing activities, depression, and living with uncertainty.” — University of Pittsburg Medical Center
T9: Driving, working, managing activities, depression, and living with uncertainty. #abcDrBchat
— UPMC (@UPMCnews) July 14, 2015
9. “Do you have any tips for someone who has had a seizure for the first time? For families?”
Answer: “Tell your doctor exactly what you are concerned about. Ask questions about the seizure.” — Epilepsy Foundation
T10 Tell your doctor exactly what you are concerned about. #Ask questions about the #seizure http://t.co/NLRDD7ZDBC #abcDrBchat
— Epilepsy Foundation (@EpilepsyFdn) July 14, 2015
The U.S. National Library of Medicine also recommends getting a lot of sleep and ensuring one’s home is arranged to help prevent injuries if he or she has a seizure in the future.
10. “Myth-busting time! What are some common myths and misconceptions about seizures and epilepsy?”
Answer: “Myth: Epilepsy is contagious” — Epilepsy Education Everywhere
t12: MYTH: Epilepsy is contagious. #abcdrbchat
— EEE (@EpilepsyEd) July 14, 2015
No, epilepsy is not contagious.
Answer: “The Epilepsy Foundation at epilepsy.com or EndEpilepsy.org.” — Keck Medicine of USC
T13 The Epilepsy Foundation at http://t.co/Jtg1UUvU6p or http://t.co/DXJKznNn5A #abcdrbchat
— Keck Medicine of USC (@KeckMedUSC) July 14, 2015
The Epilepsy Foundation also has forums where you can discuss all aspects of epilepsy.
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Margaret is excited to join The Mighty team for the summer as an editorial intern. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. A California native, Margaret loves going to the beach. She studied abroad in London for the spring semester and has caught the travel bug. In her free time, Margaret enjoys working out, baking and spending time with her family.
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