A-Z of Neurological Conditions

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Name

Epilepsy

Description

Epilepsy is the tendency to have recurrent seizures, which tend to recur spontaneously. These seizures occur when there is an electrical disturbance in the brain, and the signals it sends to the body become mixed up, rather like an electrical storm in the brain.

Types

There are many different types of seizure, usually divided into two categories - generalised or partial. Typically a seizure may last from a few seconds to a few minutes.

Partial seizure - affects only part of the brain. Consciousness is not lost in a simple partial seizure; consciousness is impaired in a complex partial seizure.

Generalised seizures affect the whole brain, and often involve a loss of consciousness. They include the Tonic Clonic seizure where the person falls down, and their body stiffens and shakes; the Atonic seizure where the body goes floppy rather than stiff; the Absence seizure, which usually shows itself in a blank stare lasting a few seconds; the Myoclonic seizure, which is very brief and involves a muscle jerk.

Useful National contacts

Epilepsy Action
Helpline: 0808 800 5050
www.epilepsy.org.uk


Epilepsy Society
Helpline: 01494 601400
www.epilepsysociety.org.uk


David Lewis Centre For Epilepsy
Tel. 01565 640000
www.davidlewis.org.uk


NCYPE (National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy)
Tel. 01342 832243
www.ncype.org.uk

Useful local contacts (Merseyside)

Mersey Region Epilepsy Association
Tel: 0151 298 2666
www.epilepsymersey.org.uk
Email: mrea@epilepsymersey.org.uk

Our resources

The library at Neurosupport has a range of reference resources on this condition and on a wide range of disability related issues.

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