Epilepsy and Epileptic Seizures

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Emergency Medical Technician Research Paper

INTRODUCTION:

This paper is on epilepsy and seizures. The human brain is the source of all human epilepsy. (Steven C. Schachter, Patricia O. Shafer, Joseph I. Sirven, 2013) What is epilepsy? Epilepsy is sometimes referred to a seizure disorder, though not all seizures are related to epilepsy. According to the website Stony Brook Medicine, the reason a seizure occurs is because of an unexpected surge of electrical activity in the brain. (Stony Brook Medicine, 2014) Due to the overloading of electrical activity, it causes short-lived disturbance in the messaging system between the brain cells. The word epilepsy approaches from a Greek word 'epi' signifying 'upon or above' and the Greek word 'Laptos' meaning 'seizure'. The roots we have the Greek word epilepsia and epilepsies. (Seth Statler) Epilepsy also means that a person has had repeated seizures. A single seizure does not mean they have epilepsy. Therefore epilepsy can be defined as more than one seizure. In America, more than three million Americans are affected with epilepsy and seizures, with almost 200,000 new cases diagnosed annually. (Stony Brook Medicine, 2014) Epilepsy is not a disease but a disorder of the central nervous system specifically the brain.

Getting in depth with seizures, as mentioned above, a seizure is a temporary episode of symptoms generated by a burst of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Seizures were also known as convulsion and fits in the olden times. Our brain consists of millions of neurons, which are constantly sending miniature electrical messages down the nerves throughout the body. Different parts and function of the body are controlled by different parts of the brain. Sometimes the ne...

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...ry/speciality_areas/epilepsy/seizures

Kenny, D. T. (2012, March 15). Patient.co.uk. Retrieved April 17, 2014, from www.patient.co.uk: www.patient.co.uk/health/Epilepsy-A-General-Introduction.htm

National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke. (2014, March 13). Retrieved April 17, 2014, from www.ninds.nih.gov: www.ninds.nih.gov/disorder/epilepsy/deatil_epilepsy.htm#254813109

Seth Statler, L. D. (n.d.). History of Epilepsy. Retrieved April 20, 2014, from www.nawrot.psych.ndsu.nodak.edu: http://www.nawrot.psych.ndsu.nodak.edu

Steven C. Schachter, Patricia O. Shafer, Joseph I. Sirven. (2013, 7). Epilepsy Foundation. Retrieved 04 20, 2014, from www.epilepsy.com: epilepsy.com/learning/treating-seizures-and-epilepsy

Stony Brook Medicine. (2014). Retrieved April 20, 2014, from www.stonybrookmedicine.edu: http://www.stongbrookmedicine.edu/patiencecare/epilepsy

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