Health conditions that can cause adult-onset epilepsy that you should know!

Adult-onset Epilepsy is a widely disregarded condition frowned upon by most of us. This is not surprising because it can come with a lot of challenges and social awkwardness. On this international epilepsy day, we want to educate you on what you need to know about this condition.

Firstly, what exactly is this epilepsy we are talking about?

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that can lead to repeated and often unprovoked seizures. A seizure occurs as a result of an imbalance in the electrical activity of the brain cells. You should be aware that not all seizures can be classified as epilepsy. Epilepsy can be a result of genetics, infections, prenatal causes due to trauma during birth, and brain development disorder (which is why you should take a top-quality prenatal vitamin such as NATURE’S FIELD PREGMUM PLUS OMEGA 3). However, did you know that this condition can start in adulthood? Hence the name adult-onset epilepsy. Read on to find out how!

TYPES OF EPILEPSY

There are four major types of epilepsy. It is important to be aware of the various types as a medication can worsen a condition if not taken correctly. These include;

• GENERALIZED EPILEPSY: This type of epilepsy affects both the left and right sides of the brain and can cause loss of consciousness. It includes muscle twitching, confusion, daydreaming, etc.
• FOCAL EPILEPSY: This is the most common and only affects one part of the brain. It is characterized by confusion, hallucinations, anxiety, etc.
• COMBINED GENERALIZED AND FOCAL EPILEPSY: As the name implies, is a type of epilepsy where people have both generalized and focal epilepsy. Hence, this leads to a combination of various seizures.
• UNKNOWN: This occurs when the cause is unknown and the type cannot be determined either.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EPILEPSY AND CONVULSION?

It is common to interchange epilepsy with convulsion. However, there is a slight difference between the two. Epilepsy is a result of abnormal activity of the neurons in the brain which then brings about signs and symptoms. Convulsion is characterized by jerky movement and is one of the distinctive features of seizures. this is the main distinguishing feature between the two.

HEALTH RISK FACTORS THAT CAN CAUSE ADULT-ONSET EPILEPSY

• SEVERE HEAD INJURY: Head injuries can result from accidents, falls or any blow to the head. It can cause damage to the brain which can lead to epilepsy when the electrical activity is disturbed.
• STROKE: A stroke can cause the blood supply to the brain to be cut off. This leads to brain injury and the formation of scar tissue which can disrupt the electrical activity of the brain leading to epilepsy.
• CNS INFECTIONS: Infections in the central nervous system such as meningitis can lead to inflammation of the brain. This is because these infections can prompt an immune response which can change the electrical activity of the brain causing epilepsy.
• DEMENTIA: Dementia is the loss of memory. It can increase the risk of epilepsy in an older adult.
• AUTOIMMUNE-INDUCED: Conditions that cause the immune system to attack itself(autoimmune) can lead to epilepsy. These include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.

REMEDIES FOR EPILEPSY MANAGEMENT

• LIFESTYLE CHANGES: this includes reducing alcohol consumption, eating a healthy diet, avoiding smoking, and de-stress as much as possible because these are possible triggers of epilepsy.
• USE OF NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT: Deficiency in certain vitamins such as Vitamin B6 has been implicated in the worsening of this condition. Therefore, ensure you take the needed nutrients to manage this condition. There is no better way to do that than to go for NATURE’S FIELD ABCD SUPPLEMENTS comprising of Vitamin E (as alpha-tocopherol), Vitamin B6, CoQ10, and Vitamin D3.

Epilepsy is not an easy condition to deal with but it is not something to be ashamed of either. Remember that you are not the only one going through this condition and you can live a healthy life as much as possible. NATURE’S FIELD SUPPLEMENT will help you manage this condition effectively and reduce the symptoms that come with it.