There are various stigmas and misconceptions that surround epilepsy. Lack of clarity and awareness regarding the cause, effect, and treatment of epilepsy is the core reason. Ahead of World Epilepsy Day, let's learn and know about epilepsy as a step towards awareness.

Understanding Epilepsy:
Unprovoked seizures that occur at recurrent periods due to neurological disorder is called epilepsy. The symptoms include uncontrollable muscle movement, behaviours, and sensations due to bursts of electrical activity. It does not only affect a particular age group, rather it affects diverse age groups in various forms and any gender. But what happens during epilepsy?
Our body receives signals and messages from our brain cells. But during epilepsy, the rhythmic pulse pattern followed by the brain cells disrupts with a burst of electrical signal energy between each cell in one or more areas of the brain. When it comes to epilepsy, healthcare professionals can clarify the types, causes and the reason they occur. Some of the details are mentioned below.

Below are some of the known causes of epilepsy:
> Genetics: It is passed on through generations from our ancestors.
> Injuries: If your head has any trauma due to accidents or injuries.
> Immunity: Sometimes the autoimmune disease affects the brain resulting in epilepsy.
> Metabolic disorders: People with low metabolic energy are affected.
> Brain infections: Some infections like meningitis or encephalitis can cause epilepsy.


Types:
- Focal onset: Also known as partial onset, is the one that affects the senses and emotions or results in loss of consciousness.
- Tonic seizures: Last for a short time, less than 20 seconds, and involve a significant increase in muscle tone, causing stiffness in parts of the body like the arms, legs, or even the back.
- Absent seizures: mostly affecting children, lasting less than 10 seconds. It causes minor muscle movements like eye blinking, lip-smacking motions, or even a blank stare.
- Clonic seizures: A clonic seizure stiffens and relaxes muscles repeatedly.
- Myoclonic seizures: Myoclonic seizures entail brief muscle jerks or twitches, lasting only a few seconds.

Symptoms:
Apart from seizures, there are other symptoms, which include: Muscle jerking, temporary loss, fast heart rate or breathing, or even problems with talking or understanding, waves of heat or cold are some symptoms of epileptic seizures.

Diagnosis:
If you have a seizure all of a sudden, it is advisable to approach health professionals for diagnosis, treatment, and care. The care professionals make sure to go for a physical test, then check the medical history and go for a blood analysis. Meanwhile, the symptoms and family history will be investigated.

Treatment:
Anti-seizure medicines, special diets, and surgery are some of the common treatment options for epilepsy.

Support and care:
Individuals who need care and support for their condition can approach healthcare service providers who make sure that the required care and support are provided. It involves medication support, helping with daily living activities, and following up with healthcare professionals. Care providers like India Home Health Care make sure that every individual receives care and support, even from the comfort of their doorstep.

About IHHC:
India Home Health Care, a BAYADA Home Health Care partner, has altered India's home health care system and made it more accessible to the general public. IHHC is composed of a group of professionals who have worked in the field of caregiving. The caregivers and nurses have received extensive training to provide expert services to patients who are suffering or chronically ill. Since 2009, IHHC has commended itself for being a one-of-a-kind institution that provides high-quality health care in the seclusion of the patient's own home. Clients can have peace of mind knowing that their loved ones will be treated with respect and dignity at IHHC.