What is a seizure disorder?
-The
brain "runs on" chemical/ electrical
energy. In some people, certain brain cells "discharge", activating
yet other brain cells and so on, in an inappropriate way.
-This abnormal spread of electrical
activity in the brain is the basis of a seizure.
Do people with seizures
always have convulsions?
-No. While some people do, many individuals
never have anything approaching or resembling a full-blown
convulsion during their seizures. The symptoms of each seizure
depend entirely upon the specific parts of the brain that
are activated by the abnormal bursts of electrical activity.
-For example, a seizure involving the
brain area involved with:
Sense of taste - may
result in perception of a peculiar taste that is not really
there: often metallic, like a piece of foil or a penny in one's
mouth.
Sense of smell - may result
in a peculiar odor, typically the same, usually foul or
unpleasant and not noted by others.
Vision - may cause objects
to appear too large, too small, distorted or otherwise
abnormal.
Control of muscles - may cause
jerking of the opposite side of the body or face.
Why are seizures relevant
when one is dealing with sleep problems?
SEIZURES CAN CAUSE CLOUDING
OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND IMPAIRED ALERTNESS RESEMBLING SLEEPINESS
IN SOME INDIVIDUALS.
Some people who experience
lapses, confusion and slowed thinking--and who thus assume
that they are simply sleepy--actually are not. Instead,
they are experiencing low grade seizure activity that is
interfering with their mental functioning. It is critical
to differentiate this type of problem from true sleepiness,
because its treatment is totally different.
SEIZURES OFTEN OCCUR DURING DURING
SLEEP--AND THE CONSEQUENT SYMPTOMS CAN MIMIC WHAT ONE
ENCOUNTERS WITH OTHER SLEEP-RELATED ILLNESSES.
During
sleep, the brain tends to "let its guard down": facilitating
the occurrence of a number of different types of seizure
manifestations. Examples range from mild twitches of one
side of the face to repetitive hard body jerks, bizarre
attacks of screaming and frantic behavior, and even generalized
convulsions. Loss of urine, generalized muscle aching on
awakening, and biting of the inside of the cheek or the
tongue during sleep suggest, but don't prove, that a seizure
took place.
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