The terms epilepsy and seizure are often confined. On the one hand, a seizure is the resulting behavior or set of behaviors, characterized by an apparent alteration of responsiveness and/or, sensory, or autonomic dysfunction, caused by excessive neuronal discharges in the brain. A seizure is a single event. Epilepsy is recurrent seizure activity resulting from a primary discharge of aberrant neurons within the brain. Read more
Treatment of epileptic seizures is usually accomplished through medication management. Antiepileptic medications work by circulating in the blood stream at an optimal and steady therapeutic level to provide maximum seizure control. This therapeutic level is called the plasma drug level, and this level is routinely measured from an assay of the patient’s blood. Steady plasma drug levels are best achieved by taking the antiepileptic medication as prescribed. This can be enhanced by taking the medication after meals, which will not only decrease the medication’s absorption rate into the blood stream (and ensuring a steady level) but also will reduce any gastric discomfort caused by taking it on an empty stomach. Read more
Even after a fairly minor head injury there will be a time after the head injured person has apparently woken up, which he / she will, later be unable to remember.
This time can range from a few seconds or minutes to days, weeks or months. Read more
The functions achieved by the brain of the human newborn are almost entirely in the brainstem. They have to do mostly with basic life processes such as breathing, consciousness, simple movement of the body, the circulation of the blood, heat regulation, the ability to suck, swallow and digest food and the collection and discharge of body wastes. It is when disease or injury affects the brainstem, especially pons and medulla, that life is seriously threatened. Read more
While all accidents have the potential for serious injuries, motorcycle riders are at an extra disadvantage. In a collision, …
The number of children and adolescents in this country sustaining traumatic brain injuries is staggering. Each year one million …
The terms epilepsy and seizure are often confined. On the one hand, a seizure is the resulting behavior or set of behaviors, …
