Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures (convulsions) over time.
Seizures are episodes of abnormal brain activity that cause changes in attention or behavior. Epilepsy may be due to a medical condition or an injury that affects the brain, or the cause could be idiopathic (of unknown origin). In this Q & A we answer some of your most common questions about epilepsy.
The surgeons at ANA participate and in some cases direct programs that have been designated as Level 4 Epilepsy Centers, the highest possible designation made by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC), which is comprised of a select number of epilepsy centers in the U.S. For a definition of centers, log onto http://www.naeclocator.org/spec_care/
guidelines.htm
guidelines.htm
Common causes of epilepsy include:
- Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- Dementia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Infections, including brain abscess, meningitis, and encephalitis
- Brain problems that are present at birth (congenital brain defect)
- Brain injury that occurs during or near birth
- Brain tumor
- Abnormal blood vessels in the brain
What You Can Expect
Types of Epilepsy
