Epilepsy treatment in hyderabad​

Epilepsy affects millions of people globally. It disrupts the daily life of a person with recurrent seizures, loss of control, and other problems. Despite the prevalence, there are still a lot of misconceptions about Epilepsy and the treatment options. In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about Epilepsy.

Imagine losing full control of your body, not knowing what just happened, and waking up puzzled. This is a normal feeling for people with Epilepsy, a disorder that affects brain function and leads to unpredictable seizures. While there is no fixed age at which epilepsy occurs, it is seen more commonly in children and older people. But, the good part is that proper treatment and minor lifestyle changes can help people with epilepsy lead a normal life. You can rely on names like Gleneagles Hospital for epilepsy treatment in Hyderabad.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which the brain sends wrong signals to the body, resulting in recurrent seizures. A seizure happens when many neurons send signals to the brain at the same time and at a much faster speed. The sudden electrical activity in the brain causes seizures. It requires constant medical attention and is generally not contagious. A person is diagnosed with epilepsy when they experience unprovoked recurrent seizures without any external pressure like fever, injury, or any other reason. However, seizures alone are not enough to identify the condition as epilepsy. Consulting the doctor on the other symptoms you are experiencing will provide you with a detailed report of your condition.

The severity of the seizures can vary for every patient. They are broadly classified into the following types-

Generalised Seizures

This type of seizure affects both the hemispheres of the brain. The patient becomes unconscious and unaware, and abnormal movements can be noticed on both sides of the body. A person with epilepsy can have more than one type of seizure. The generalised seizures can further be divided into four types.

1. Tonic-Clonic Seizures- These are characterised by violent muscle contractions and jerking movements.
2. Absence Seizures- It is characterised by subtle body movements and constant staring for no reason.
3. Myoclonic Seizures- Patients will experience sudden and brief muscle twitching.
4. Atonic Seizures- In this type of seizure, the affected person tends to lose muscle strength and fall. 
    

Focal Seizures

A focal seizure primarily begins on one side of the brain. They cause loss of sensation and abnormal movements on one side of the body. However, it can gradually spread to both sides. Focal Seizures can be further divided into two parts.

1. Simple Focal Seizure- It affects a small part of the brain and does not make the patient unconscious.
2. Complex Focal Seizure- This leads to confusion and repetitive movements.

The exact cause of epilepsy is unknown in half of epilepsy patients. In the rest of the patients, some of the common causes include:
 

• Genetic Predisposition: A family history of epilepsy can increase your chances of having epilepsy, too.
• Brain Injuries: Head trauma or any other injuries or accident falls can result in epilepsy.
• Infections: An untreated brain infection can cause epileptic seizures.
• Stroke and Brain Tumours: Brain tumours can disrupt normal brain activity and can cause recurrent seizures.
• Developmental Disorders: Various developmental disorders like autism and cerebral palsy might be linked to epilepsy and other neurological conditions.

The symptoms of epilepsy can vary depending on the type of seizure. While the symptoms are not fixed and the severity is different for all, knowing some of the common symptoms can help you get timely treatment for your condition. Some of the symptoms are mentioned below:

• Uncontrolled jerking movements
• Temporary state of confusion
• Loss of consciousness or awareness
• Staring spells
• Sensory disturbances (tingling sensations, unusual smells, light flashes) 
   

Apart from these, sometimes, people with epilepsy also show psychosis symptoms. The types of seizures one gets are similar most of the time.

For the diagnosis of epilepsy, a series of tests and examinations will be done to know the exact health condition. To confirm that your symptoms are epilepsy symptoms, your doctor would conduct the following tests:

1. EEG- An electroencephalogram test helps detect any abnormal brain activity.
2. MRI/CT Scan- Medical imaging tests are extremely beneficial for identifying any abnormalities in the brain.
3. Blood Tests- A Comprehensive blood test will help in ruling out any infections or genetic causes of neurological disorders.
4. Neurological Exam- To check the behaviour, mental function, and movement abnormalities, a neurological examination is beneficial. This test also helps in identifying the exact type of epilepsy the patient might have.

The right treatment options for epilepsy can help in effectively managing the seizures and reducing their frequency. Some of the options for epilepsy treatment in Hyderabad include the following:
 

• Medications: Anti-epileptic medicines have helped a lot of people completely stop their seizures. Others would require taking more than one medicine to reduce the frequency and severity of the seizures.
• Surgery: When consistent medication is not able to provide any relief from recurrent seizures, brain surgery has to be performed in which a neurosurgeon would remove the affected area from your brain which is causing seizures.
• Diet Therapy: A ketogenic diet has been proven to reduce the frequency of seizures significantly. A high-fat and low-carbohydrate diet is referred to as a ketogenic diet.
• Vagus Nerve Stimulation: This involves the implantation of a device for stimulating the vagus nerve, which reduces seizures. The vagus nerve is the largest nerve in the human body, and patients with epilepsy can benefit greatly from vagus nerve stimulation.
• Responsive Neurostimulation: In this, pacemaker-like devices are used to detect and stop any abnormal brain activity before it causes any seizures.

Regular medical checkups are extremely important for patients with epilepsy. In some cases, psychological support might have to be provided to the patient as epilepsy is quite overwhelming, especially for children. While there are no strict preventive measures you can follow to avoid epilepsy, certain steps can help in minimising the risks.

• Lower the Risks of Head Injuries by always wearing a helmet while driving a bike. Do not indulge in any risky activities which can cause head injuries.
• Maintain healthy eating habits like having a balanced diet and eating on time to prevent the risk of having a stroke.
• Seek rehabilitation therapies for substance abuse. Too much alcohol consumption or smoking and drugs can result in brain damage, further causing neurological conditions like epilepsy.

Brain conditions like Epilepsy make normal life much more difficult. It impacts many aspects of your life, including your school, work, travel, lifestyle, independence, and overall health. You don’t know when you will have your next seizure and completely lose control of your body, which makes you highly dependent on someone to take care of you all the time. While the condition is difficult for the patient as well as the family, certain lifestyle modifications can help in managing the seizures in a better way. These include taking your medicines on time, identifying the triggers, maintaining a healthy diet and regularly exercising, etc. Educating all the family members about first aid measures during a seizure will be additionally helpful.

Gleneagles Hospital is a top-tier medical institution that specialises in epilepsy treatment. Some of the reasons that make it the best epilepsy treatment in Hyderabad include the following:
 

• Expert Neurologists and Epileptologists: Gleneagles Hospital has highly skilled and trained specialists who are experienced in treating epileptic patients.
• Advanced Facilities: At Gleneagles, you get access to state-of-the-art medical imaging technologies.
• Personalised Treatment: The doctors will provide you with personalised epilepsy treatment in Hyderabad and follow a patient-centric treatment approach.
• Multidisciplinary Approach: Collaborative care is provided by expert neurologists, dietitians, and therapists.