Overview of Epilepsy

Overview of Epilepsy Epilepsy Table of Contents Introduction †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Page 1 What is epilepsy? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Page 2 Diagnosis †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Page 2-4 Types of Seizures †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Page 5-9 Types of Treatments †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Pages 9-10 Further Research †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Pages 11-12 Physiological issues with Epilepsy †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Page 12 Conclusion †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Pages 12-13 References †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Pages 14-15 Introduction Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that targets 1 in 100 people in North America. Epilepsy is one of very few diseases without a definite cure. In fact scientists to this day cannot figure out what triggers these seizures. This is quite amazing considering the modern technologies medicine uses today. Throughout my paper I will explain what epilepsy is and what happens during an epileptic seizure, I will cover the different categories of seizures, how doctors diagnose epilepsy, and different types of treatment to help the patients with epilepsy. What is epilepsy? Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that attacks the nervous system. Another term for epilepsy is â€Å"seizure disorder† (www.epilepsy.com). To this day the exact factor that triggers an epileptic seizure is unknown. In other words epileptic seizures are idiopathic (Ogden, 2005). Seizures occur when too many brain cells get excited at the same time. A seizure is like an electrical storm in your brain. During this electrical storm your brain cannot perform its usual tasks, causing sudden changes in behaviour, sensations, movement, and awareness (www.epilepsysociety.org.uk). A typical seizure usually last between a few seconds, to a few minutes. Once the seizure is finished the victim enters a â€Å"post-ictal period. (The greek word â€Å"post† meaning â€Å"after†, and the Greek work â€Å"ictal† meaning â€Å"seizure† [http://www.behindthename.com]). During this post-ictal period, which can last from seconds to hours, the brain begins recovering, and the victim’s awareness will gradually increase. It is common to experience confusion and drowsiness during this phase. Diagnosis Epilepsy is the conditions of having spontaneous seizures. This means having one seizure is not enough to be diagnosed with epilepsy, there must be two or more. To be considered an epileptic seizure the seizure must occur spontaneously, without a direct factor (www.epilepsy.com). Doctors use three main ways to diagnose epilepsy. Neurological History – Doctors must be given specific description of previous seizures in the past. Such as; how long they lasted, what were you doing when the seizure occurred, what was your body’s behaviour/feeling before the seizure took place, and your body’s behaviour after the seizure ended (www.modernmedicine.com) People who suffer from having seizures do not remember what happens while a seizure takes place. That being said a description from a witness to your seizures could be very beneficial (www.epilepsyfoundation.org). Electroencephalograph – An electroencephalograph or an EEG is the most common tool used to diagnose epilepsy. An EEG measures the electrical signals passed from one neuron to another within the brain (www.epilepsyfoundation.org) ( see image 1). To measure these electrical signals doctors attach wires, known as electrodes, on the patients scalp (www.chp.edu). During an EEG no electricity is taken from the patient’s brain, and no electricity is injected into the patients brain. The EEG simply measures the electrical current travelling through the patient’s brain. Magnetic Resonance Imaging – a magnetic resonance imaging or MRI is a procedure used to create detailed images of the damaged area of your body. When diagnosing epilepsy an MRI can show damaged regions of your frontal lobe. (see figure 2) Wu XingXiaovi WangFangfang Xie Weihua, L. (2013) An MRI is done by using a large field of radio waves. An MRI is much more effective than an EEG, the neuron images created from an MRI shows exactly where the damaged area of the brain is (Robert F. LaPrade) From there procedures can made to repair or remove the damaged section of the frontal lobe that is causing epileptic seizures. Types of Epileptic Seizures Epileptic seizures are a very broad term. When diagnosing the type of epileptic seizures doctors categorize in two main categories; partial seizures, and primary generalized seizures. Within these two main categories there are more specific types of seizures (Stephen C. Schachter). The first category is â€Å"primary generalized seizures†. When a primary generalized seizure takes place both sides of the brain are affected at once, with a large amount of electrical discharge at the same time. The body is then accompanied by sudden movements, loss of awareness, or loss of consciousness. There are three types of primary generalized seizures: Clonic seizure (Grand Mal) – This type of seizure that most people visualize when they hear the word â€Å"seizure†. When a clonic seizure takes place the victim will stiffen and lose consciousness. – This is the â€Å"tonic phase†. The tonic phase usually lasts from thirty seconds, to a couple minutes (www.hopkinsmedicine.org). Next the body’s muscles then start to contract and back will begin to arch, and elbows and legs will start the flex. The last phase of the clonic seizure is jerking. The victim will lose all control of their body and will begin to jerk uncontrollably, this phase usually lasts around two or three minutes (www.nlm.nih.gov). Absence seizures (Petit Mal) – Absence seizures disconnect the victim from the world for a matter of a few seconds. This type of seizure is triggered from abnormal activity in the brain. Absence seizures occur mostly in children (www.epilepsy.com). There are two types of absence; Simple absence seizures, and Complex absence seizures. Simple Absence seizure – Usually last ten seconds or less. During these ten seconds the person â€Å"zones out† or stares off into the distance. This type of seizure is very difficult to diagnose (www.mayoclinic.org). Complex absence seizures – Usually lasts twenty seconds or less. During this time period then victim will â€Å"zone out† but will also be doing some sort of movement, such as; chewing, blinking, hand motions, or rubbing their fingers. (www.epilepsy.com). Myoclonic seizures – A myoclonic seizure is very brief, only lasting a matter of seconds. During this few seconds both sides of your body has sudden jerks at exactly the same time. During a myoclonic seizure the patient does not lose consciousness and does not have any memory loss (Orrin Devinsky, 7/2013). A myoclonic seizure can be compared to being in contact with a single jolt of electricity, sudden hiccups, or the jolt of waking up from sleep state very quickly (www.hopkinsmedicine.org) (Orrin Devinsky, 7/2013). Like absence seizures, myoclonic seizures are hard to diagnose and usually over looked because the seizures are so brief. The second category is â€Å"partial seizures†. When partial seizure takes place there is a large amount of electrical discharge in a certain area of the brain (Mary Ellen Ellis, July 25, 2012). Since only a specific location of the brain is effected, only a specific location of the body will be effected, depending on the location of the seizure in the brain. There are two types of partial seizures; Complex partial seizures, and simple partial seizures. Simple partial seizures: A typical simple partial seizure usually last between 30 seconds to two minutes (emedicine.medscape.com). When a patient has a simple partial seizure they are fully awake, alert, and able to interact with peers around them. The patient might lose one of their senses temporarily, be unable to move one of their fingers, or even stiffen one of their body parts (www.epilepsy.com). For the seizure to be considered a â€Å"simple partial seizure† memory, awareness, and consciousness must be preserved. Complex partial seizure – Similar to simple partial seizures, a complex partial seizure typically last between 30 seconds and two minutes (emedicine.medscape.com). During a complex partial seizure there are symptoms known as automatisms. Automatisms consist of lip-smacking, chewing, walking or pacing back and forth, swallowing, patting or fumbling (emedicine.medscape.com). A main difference between the two types of partial seizures is; consciousness, awareness, or memory is impaired. Unlike primary generalized seizures, partial seizures usually have a warning sign to inform the patient a seizure is near. This warning sign is called an â€Å"aura† (Columbia University, P. (2013)). An aura usually takes place a few seconds, or a few minutes before the seizure occurs. Aura’s can come in many different ways, such as; numbness, headaches, being light-headed, upset stomach, dizziness, the sensation of fear, forced thinking, abnormal sensations, or unusual tingle in a certain area of your body. When an epileptic patient senses one or more of these symptoms there is high probability a partial seizure will be soon to follow (William H. Blahd, Jr, August 25, 2011). Types of Epileptic Treatment The most common type of epileptic treatment is anti-epileptic drugs or AEG’s. With over twenty different choices seventy percent of epileptic patients choose anti-epileptic drugs. Although these medications to not cure epilepsy, it only suppresses the seizures (see figure #3, located on the top of the next page) (www.webmd.com). The way this medication works is by lowering the amount of electricity each neuron passes in the brain. This type of treatment is very useful in cases of generalized seizures. The only down fall from using anti-epileptic drugs is the side effects and because the medication acts on the brain and the body there is numerous side effects. The main four side effects are headaches, balancing troubles, more difficult to focus your eyes, and trouble thinking properly. This medication is not guaranteed to work; in some cases patients experience both seizures and side effects. When this occurs a new treatment is needed. This can be a switch to a different anti-e pileptic drug or a non-medicated treatment (Juan G Ochoa, Selim R Benbadis). If a patient does not have a seizure for two years and shows no sign of epilepsy on an EEG the doctor will slowly begin to ease off the medication. (FAULKNER M. A. (2014)) The other option of treatment for patients with epilepsy is the non-pharmaceutical route. Although anti-epileptic drugs have the highest success rate, non-medicated treatment has substantial research to support it (www.epilepsyontario.org). Brain surgery is the most common non-medicated treatment; the only issue with brain surgery is that it only works for partial seizures. The reason why is only works on partial seizures is because doctors can locate the specific area of the brain and remove sections of it. On grand mal seizures both hemispheres are triggered at the same time, in order to fix the epileptic problems doctors would have to remove too much of the brain, the patient would not live (www.epilepsyontario.org). New research always shows diet can be very beneficial; his is called the ketogenic diet. Its takes a lot of commitments considering no sweets or treats are allowed and 80 percent of the diet must be fatty foods, but low in carbohydrates. The ketogenic diet has success rates from 30 percent up to 50 percent (www.epilepsyontario.com). Further research Epilepsy has become more and more common in the past 20 years. Now that it has become more common scientists all over the world are beginning to test for a cure, weather that is a new class of medicine, gene therapy, or a non-medicated cure. The newest research for curing epilepsy is gene therapy. In 2009 scientist were able to figure out that the gene for epilepsy is located on chromosome 15 also known as â€Å"15q13.3†. (www.sciencedaily.com). With this knowledge and the proper technologies scientists can inject a virus containing the normal gene into chromosome where the epileptic mutation is. From there the normal gene will splice into the DNA strand, fixing the abnormal gene. In result epilepsy will be cured from the patient, and when they reproduce they can pass on a normal gene to their children. With this being said we can potentially remove epilepsy from our society. So far scientists have been able to cure rats with epilepsy using gene therapy, and now they have also been successful in Border Collie dogs. (Keijiro MizukamiAkira Yabukihye-Sook ChangUddin, M.) Another example of further research is new drug classes for epilepsy that are advancing each year. A good example of this is: September 2013 a new epileptic drug called Perampanel was released in United States. This new drug showed up to 35 percent more responsive outcomes than any other drug on the market. (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The only factor that is holding science back from curing epilepsy is funding. There is not enough funding going into epilepsy research. With the proper amount of Government funding or public donations epilepsy would be cured within the matter of five years from now. Physiological Issues with Epileptic patients Epilepsy does not affect the patient only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Patients who suffer from epilepsy also have to deal with low self-esteem. Low self-esteem and epilepsy go hand and hand because patients with epilepsy are afraid of going out in public, or even doing the normal day to day things because the thought of having a seizure in public. (Ogden, 2005) It is extremely embarrassing for a patient suffering from epilepsy to have a seizure in front of their friends, family, or even strangers. Another emotional barrier that is part of suffering from epilepsy is the thought of never getting a driver’s license. Not getting a driver’s license makes everything in a normal adult life difficult. From getting to work, or getting groceries, or any sort of transportation. In some cases epilepsy makes the patient one hundred percent dependent on other people. Conclusion Life with epilepsy makes any day to day task more difficult. Epilepsy has impacted millions of people in a negative manner but further research is getting close to a cure, by using gene therapy research, and finding new classes of medicine. With the proper funding from the government epileptic medicine will continue to grow and be redefined. The research going into epilepsy is constantly growing, at this rate epilepsy will have a definite cure within the next decade, and using gene therapy epilepsy will also be removed from our society all together, allowing everyone to live epileptic free. Resources http://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/greek-mythology http://epilepsy.com/learn/epilepsy-101/what-epilepsy Ogden, 2005 http://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/what-epilepsy#.UzXDJPnIZ5V http://www.professinals.epilepsy.com/page/after_ab_pos http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/aboutepilepsy http://cedars-sinai.edu/Patients/Programs-and-Services/Epilepsy-Program/Diagnosing-Epilepsy/ http://www.modernmedicine.com/modern-medicine/news/neurological-assessment-refresher http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=11sid=467a451f-9d21-4962-a627-675ecbe6d893%40sessionmgr4004hid=4204bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aqhAN=94116054 http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3sid=867d5b74-4a00-46de-86e1-686c17975c83%40sessionmgr4003hid=4112bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aqhAN=85968889 Figure 2 http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/seizure-mri http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org http://nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000695 http://epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/absense-seizures http://mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/petit-mal-seizure/basics/definition/con-20021252 http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-seizures/myoclonic-seizures http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/specialty_areas/epilepsy/seizures/types/myoclinc-seizures.html http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1183962-overview http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1183853-overview http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4sid=e018e8f4-ed9b-4c77-929f-f00e8685f286%40sessionmgr115hid=103bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=khhAN=39005165 à ¯Ã†â€™Ã… ¸(EBSCO #3) http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/aura-and-seizures http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/aura-and-seizures à ¯Ã†â€™Ã… ¸ William H. Blahd, Jr http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/[emailprotected]gr4005vid=5ui=16088672id=59600950parentui=59600950tag=ANdb=aqh à ¯Ã†â€™Ã… ¸ Image #3 http://www.emedicine.medscape.com/article/1187334-overview à ¯Ã†â€™Ã… ¸ Juan G Ochoa, Selim R Benbadis http://epilepsyontario.org/non-pharmaceutical-treatments/ http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4sid=b0940d9f-1c3e-465e-af24-23be73f63bc7%40sessionmgr110hid=122bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aqhAN=15877590 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090114075919.htm http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3sid=d6e55ff9-b6e5-4a6d-ab81-7e59cc92f267%40sessionmgr4001hid=4209bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aqhAN=95333447 Overview of Epilepsy Overview of Epilepsy TASK 3 REPORT ON EPILEPSY Epilepsy is a neurological disorder marked by sudden episodes of bodily disturbance, loss of consciousness, or seizures, related to abnormal electrical activity in the brain. Anything that injuries the brain can result in epilepsy. Some of the common causes are head injuries and strokes. Other more infrequent causes are brain tumours and some genetic disorders like tuber sclerosis. A seizure is the only observable symptom of epilepsy. There are various types of seizures and symptoms of each type. Seizures typically last from a few seconds to a few minutes. A person may lose awareness. They may not recall what occurred during the seizure or may not even realise they had a seizure. Seizures that make you fall to the ground or make the muscles stiffen or move out of control are easy to recognise. Some seizures might make you gaze into space for a few seconds. Others may only involve a few muscle jerks, a turn of the head, or an odd smell. Epileptic seizures often happen without notice. A seizure ends when the abnormal electrical activity in the brain stops and brain activity begins to return to normal. Idiopathic Generalised Epilepsy In idiopathic generalised epilepsy, there is often a genetic history of epilepsy. Idiopathic generalised epilepsy have a tendency to appear during childhood although it may not be diagnosed until maturity. In this type of epilepsy, no nervous system condition, other than the seizures, can be identified on either an EEG (EEG a test which measures electrical impulses in the brain) or MRI (imaging studies). People with idiopathic generalised epilepsy have ordinary brainpower and the outcomes of the neurological exam and MRI are usually normal. The results of the EEG test may show epileptic releases affecting one or more areas. The types of seizures that affect patients with idiopathic generalised epilepsy: Myoclonic seizures (unexpected and very short length of jerking) Absence seizures (staring spells) Generalised tonic-clonic seizures (affect the entire brain) Idiopathic Partial Epilepsy Idiopathic partial epilepsy begins in youth (between ages 5 and 8) and may be part of a family history. It is considered one of the mildest types of epilepsy. It is almost always outgrown by puberty and is never diagnosed in adults. Seizures tend to arise during sleep and are most often partial motor seizures that involve the face. This type of epilepsy is usually identified with an EEG. Symptomatic Generalised Epilepsy Symptomatic generalised epilepsy is caused by brain damage. For example, injury during birth is the most common cause of symptomatic generalised epilepsy. When the cause of symptomatic general epilepsy cannot be identified, the disorder may be referred to as cryptogenic epilepsy. Symptomatic Partial Epilepsy Symptomatic partial epilepsy is the most common type of epilepsy that begins in maturity, but it does occur often in children. This type of epilepsy is caused by a local condition of the brain, which can consequence from strokes, tumours, trauma, birth brain condition, scarring of brain tissue, cysts, or infections. These brain conditions can be seen on MRI scans, but often they cannot be recognised, because they are microscopic. Symptomatic partial epilepsy may be successfully treated with surgery. Identify and watch for a specific behaviour or physical and emotional signs that come before attacks. Its not exceptional, to feel annoyed or joyful several hours prior to the seizure, and immediately before the attack. The person may become conscious of a warning aura perhaps a taste or a smell. This notice may let the person to lie down in time to avoid falling down. In situations where the aura is a smell, some people are capable of fighting off seizures by smelling a strong odour, such as garlic or roses. When the first signs include depression, irritability, or a headache, an extra dosage of medication may help prevent an attack. Electroencephalogram (EEG) An EEG test measures the electrical activity of your brain through electrodes placed on your scalp. During the test, a person might be asked to breathe deeply or to close their eyes, as these activities could expose unfamiliar brain activity related to epilepsy. A person might also be asked to gaze at a flashing light, but the test will be stopped immediately if it seems like the flashing light could cause a seizure. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan An MRI scan can often spot possible causes of epilepsy, such as faults in the structure of your brain or the existence of a brain tumour. At the moment there is no remedy for epilepsy. Anti Epileptic Drug (AED) Anti Epileptic Drugs are commonly the first choice of treatment. They work by changing the levels of chemicals in your brain. This reduces the chances of seizures. Around 70% control their seizures with AED. Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) Vagus Nerve Stimulation is a therapy that is recommended when the Anti-Epileptic Drug dont work and epilepsy is still poorly controlled. This involves surgically implanting an electrical device, like a pacemaker, under the skin, near the collarbone. The electrical device has a lead that is bound around one of the nerves on the left side of your neck, identified as the vagus nerve. The electrical device passes a regular amount of electricity to the nerve to stimulate it. This can help to reduce the occurrence of seizures. Surgical procedure Surgery will only be suggested if a single area of one side of the brain is causing seizures. As with all types of surgery, this surgical procedure carries a threat. One person in 100 has a stroke after surgery and five in 100 suffer from memory problems. Yet, around 70% of people who suffer from epilepsy, after the surgical procedure they become absolutely free of seizures. Epilepsy Ireland was established in 1966 by a group of people who were eager to progress the quality of life of people with epilepsy in Ireland. Over 50 years, Epilepsy Ireland have grown and expanded. They now provide a range of services from their head office in Dublin and from regional offices in Cork, Dundalk, Galway, Kerry, Kilkenny, Letterkenny, Limerick, Sligo and Tullamore. Epilepsy Ireland is committed to working and consulting the needs of everyone with epilepsy in Ireland and their families. Certain objectives of Epilepsy Ireland are; to be committed to working and considering the needs of everyone with epilepsy in Ireland. To provide support, information and advice on health to people who are dealing with epilepsy. To undertake any awareness campaigns to improve peoples understanding of epilepsy, also to increase funds to support its work in an awareness-creating method. One of their main objective is to assume, inspire and support research into the source of epilepsy and a cure for it. Many people with epilepsy live standard lives. Progressive brain scans and other procedures allow greater accurateness in diagnosing epilepsy and defining when a patient may be aided by surgery. More than 20 different medications and a diversity of surgical methods are now available and offer good control of seizures for most people with epilepsy. Other treatment selections include the ketogenic diet and the vagus nerve stimulator. Research on the fundamental causes of epilepsy, include the recognition of genes for some types of epilepsy and seizures, it has managed a great improvement of understanding about epilepsy that may lead to more effective treatments or even some new ways of preventing epilepsy in the future. Works cited http://www.epilepsy.ie/index.cfm/spKey/info.what_is_epilepsy.what_causes_epilepsy_.html http://www.webmd.com/epilepsy/tc/epilepsy-symptoms http://www.webmd.boots.com/a-to-z-guides/epilepsy-basics?page=2 http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/E/Epilepsy/ http://www.epilepsy.ie/index.cfm/spKey/about.html

Catharine Sedgwick’s Hope Leslie, Stephen Gould’s Dinosaur in a Haystac

Catharine Sedgwick’s Hope Leslie, Stephen Gould’s Dinosaur in a Haystack, and Sebastian Junger’s The Perfect Storm all display similar characteristics, so that though they are seemingly unrelated, they can be compared. Mainly the comparisons exist through the imagery the authors use to weave the stories together, the structure of each book, the authority of each author, and the use of nature. A character or objects are the images that the three authors use to tie the plots of the books together. Gould’s essays seem to be completely unrelated, but in reality, they are tied together under the general theme of evolution and the metaphor of dinosaur in a haystack that is linked into each essay. The persistent use of the storm in The Perfect Storm, and its development in the chapters serves to show that the storm is the object that ties the story together. Much like the dinosaur in Dinosaur in a Haystack, it becomes a sort of central character that evolves through the developing plot. It appears that Sedgwick does not utilize one metaphor to bring her novel together, but in fact, the recurrent images and pictures are used instead. There is no dominant common theme like the dinosaur or quilt, but the story of Hope and Magawisca bring the characters together. Sedgwick’s sympathy lies in Hope’s views and story, but some can be inferred from Magawisca. Magawis ca is linked to Everell, and links Hope and Faith together. Their stories help to create the plot and bring in the links to the scattered plot. Hope Leslie " . . . and her Indian counterpart, Magawisca" (x) comprise the opinions of the author and relate the plot through prejudiced perspectives. In fact, "The text is dominated by two decidedly unconventional women: Hope Leslie, fos... ...thors are the images that hold the books together, the structure of the books, the authority of each author that is already presumed and then gained, and the use of nature. Sedgwick uses Hope and Magawisca, Junger uses the storm, and Gould uses the dinosaur to tie the plot of the books together, and to hold the story as a whole together. All three of the books are structured into chapters that divide the information into easier to understand material. Hope Leslie and Dinosaur in a Haystack contain parts that further separate the plot. The authors, Sedgwick, Gould, and Junger assume a certain amount of authority before the books are read, yet they gain even more credibility as the book is read. Each book also contains a the use of a certain aspect of nature. Therefore, the authors and their works, though seemingly very different, are similar enough to be compared.

Fly Away Peter Analysis Essay

Through out the book â€Å"Fly Away Peter†, Jim Saddler has grown from innocent to mature and even to death. This seems like a cycle of nature. People born and people die. In this novel, I think the novel is trying to convey the idea of regeneration than how Jim changed throughout the story. Regeneration is an important theme of Malouf’s Fly Away Peter. According to the novel everything regenerates, and not only in the physical sense, but also in the spiritual sense too. The term regenerate means to bring back again or bring out something new in our awareness of life. Its occurrence can be seen throughout the book and it includes the digging by the old man, the digging by Jim at the end of the novel, the fact birds come and go with old ones replaced by new ones and how Jim’s spirit lives on as the young surfer in the eyes of Miss Harcourt. They are all regenerations that are part of the cycle of life. Earth is associated with the cycle of life as it is a sign of birth, where lives stem from. Soil has always been where the life starts, this can been seen in the novel, â€Å"It (earth) was a smell that belonged to the beginning of things (life).† It is clear that soil is where life stems from; it is where plants receive their nutrients in order for new life and this is why the old man is digging, he is digging to plant new lives. Even though there is a war going on around him, he still prepares the field for the seeds, because he understands that live still goes on in all circumstances. It is through the plants from the seeds can new lives stem out of the ground and it is all part of the regenerations. The discovery of the mammoth â€Å"was a great wonder† and a rebirth of knowledge, it uncovers the past and puts new meanings and knowledge in our life as we learn about the past. Therefore, soil not only regenerates physically with new lives but also new understandings of life. Birds play an important role in the book as a sign of life. Birds have always been associated with life and freedom just like what the novel suggests â€Å"Birds were of life†. Every year they migrate to different places, yet it is not the same birds that come and go every year. The old birds get replaced  by young birds and it is all part of the cycle of life. Also, like the old man digging, they carry on with their life unaffected by the war; this can be seen from the quote â€Å"Even here, in the thick of the fighting, there were birds.† It is apparent that despites the chaos, death and horrors happening down below, the birds can still regenerate and live the way nature intended them to. Through the young surfer, there is a sense of the rebirth of Jim spiritually in Imogen’s mind. The young surfer at the end of the novel is essentially the â€Å"new† Jim for Imogen, although they are not the same person, it is as if Jim has dug through the earth to come back as the young surfer. Imogen recognises this, and understands that no matter what happens life goes on like the way waves never stop. Both of them never ending and Imogen realises that there is other people in the world that will have the image of Jim. Regeneration is an important theme of the novel, all things in life regenerates, from the birds to our minds, from the earths to the oceans, it occurs at every level of the world. With regeneration, it also brings us new meanings of life and increases our knowledge and awareness of our surroundings; therefore regeneration is essential to our life.

Free Essays on DC Metrorail

Introduction The Washington Metrorail system is one of the finest in the nation, if not the world. After spending a fair portion of my life and an honest portion of my money on the Blue Line to and from Franconia-Springfield and Alexandria, I am interesting in delving into where Metrorail funds come from and how these funds are allocated in this portion of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s budget. The Washington Metrorail system is managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which simultaneously operates a fleet of buses catering to the needs of area citizens. The Metrorail is comprised on five lines: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, and Blue. These five lines branch off and into the adjacent areas Maryland and Virginia. The Metrorail system covers an expansive area and is over 100 miles in length generating nearly $437 million dollars in revenue. The first section of the Metrorail system was opened in 1976. The system as originally planned has since been completed. Extensions to the original construction of Metrorail include the following: 1) The extension of the Green Line from Anacostia to Branch Ave 2) Eastward extension of the Blue Line to Largo Town Center 3) Future extension will include a new branch of the Orange Line to Tyson’s Corner and to Dulles National Airport WMATA Budget Breakdown Before we can examine the break down of the Metrorail budget itself, we must first look at the budget of the WMATA as a whole. The budget of the WMATA is $1.56 billion dollars. As mention in my introduction, I am interested in where the money comes from as well as where it goes. $379.2 million dollars of the WMATA budget comes from Federal subsidies and government funding, $610.3 million dollars is received from regional funding subsidies, and $570.7 million dollars of revue is generated by the WMATA to round out the entire budget. The WMATA is ranks among the best in the country with a fift... Free Essays on DC Metrorail Free Essays on DC Metrorail Introduction The Washington Metrorail system is one of the finest in the nation, if not the world. After spending a fair portion of my life and an honest portion of my money on the Blue Line to and from Franconia-Springfield and Alexandria, I am interesting in delving into where Metrorail funds come from and how these funds are allocated in this portion of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s budget. The Washington Metrorail system is managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which simultaneously operates a fleet of buses catering to the needs of area citizens. The Metrorail is comprised on five lines: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, and Blue. These five lines branch off and into the adjacent areas Maryland and Virginia. The Metrorail system covers an expansive area and is over 100 miles in length generating nearly $437 million dollars in revenue. The first section of the Metrorail system was opened in 1976. The system as originally planned has since been completed. Extensions to the original construction of Metrorail include the following: 1) The extension of the Green Line from Anacostia to Branch Ave 2) Eastward extension of the Blue Line to Largo Town Center 3) Future extension will include a new branch of the Orange Line to Tyson’s Corner and to Dulles National Airport WMATA Budget Breakdown Before we can examine the break down of the Metrorail budget itself, we must first look at the budget of the WMATA as a whole. The budget of the WMATA is $1.56 billion dollars. As mention in my introduction, I am interested in where the money comes from as well as where it goes. $379.2 million dollars of the WMATA budget comes from Federal subsidies and government funding, $610.3 million dollars is received from regional funding subsidies, and $570.7 million dollars of revue is generated by the WMATA to round out the entire budget. The WMATA is ranks among the best in the country with a fift...

Free Essays on Mandatory Reporting

abusing another person. Compared to the Child and Young Persons Act (1989) definition of child abuse which is delineated under the four categories, Physical, Sexual, Emotional abuse and Neglect, a strong similarity is present. Children who are victims of these four categories of assault have available options to protect themselves, if they are confident to speak out. There are many who can help. If the child is not confident in talking to a member of the family or a friend, different options are accessible. Services are available including health centres, counselling support centres, phone help lines. Professions including teachers, police officers, medical practitioners and psychologists are obliged to notify the Secretary of the Department of Human Services of any suspected physical or sexual child abuse. The Government did not bring mandatory reporting into Victoria until 1993, much later than many other states in Australia. Due to statistics of child abuse reporting in other states the government took in to consideration the benefits of compulsory reporting. There were many individuals and groups who realised the necessity of this form of reporting for child abuse in Victoria. The Law Reform Commission of Victoria were the main organisation involved in implementing mandatory reporting. They argued the benefits including the available protection to prevent further abuse and the increase amount of reported child abuse cases. To determine if mandatory reporting would be beneficially to the commun... Free Essays on Mandatory Reporting Free Essays on Mandatory Reporting An increasingly common issue in today’s society is child abuse. A high percentage of child abuse takes place within family, involving physical and/or mental assault. In many cases the victim is pressured into keeping the abusive acts quiet, placing an additional burden on them. Mandatory reporting is one of the only options that is playing an effective role in abuse. Abuse is defined in the dictionary as ill-treatment, insult, words abusing another person. Compared to the Child and Young Persons Act (1989) definition of child abuse which is delineated under the four categories, Physical, Sexual, Emotional abuse and Neglect, a strong similarity is present. Children who are victims of these four categories of assault have available options to protect themselves, if they are confident to speak out. There are many who can help. If the child is not confident in talking to a member of the family or a friend, different options are accessible. Services are available including health centres, counselling support centres, phone help lines. Professions including teachers, police officers, medical practitioners and psychologists are obliged to notify the Secretary of the Department of Human Services of any suspected physical or sexual child abuse. The Government did not bring mandatory reporting into Victoria until 1993, much later than many other states in Australia. Due to statistics of child abuse reporting in other states the government took in to consideration the benefits of compulsory reporting. There were many individuals and groups who realised the necessity of this form of reporting for child abuse in Victoria. The Law Reform Commission of Victoria were the main organisation involved in implementing mandatory reporting. They argued the benefits including the available protection to prevent further abuse and the increase amount of reported child abuse cases. To determine if mandatory reporting would be beneficially to the commun...

Critical analysis of a broadsheet newspaper Essay Example

Critical analysis of a broadsheet newspaper Essay Example Critical analysis of a broadsheet newspaper Paper Critical analysis of a broadsheet newspaper Paper My newspaper is a broadsheet, whose main purpose is to inform, state the facts about what is going on in the world around us. It is to have an unbiased view, telling the news as it is, how it is, without distorting the truth. It is to remain as factual, formal and serious as is possible, while keeping it simplistic enough to reach a wider audience, with short simple facts about the situation. But crams in enough information in such a way to meet the needs of a more intellectual people. I have intended to target an audience of the general public. However I feel the broadsheet will appeal to a group mostly consisting of adults, who dont want the latest gossip and rumours on celebrities. The language I have used is very emotive, One day, Sydney Bristow, Mathew Bristows 3-year-old daughter, will understand the full implications of yesterday, when her Father was murdered just a mile from her home in Stanton Island. Unfortunately this article is indeed very emotive, and ideally would not be, to remain constant with the style of the paper. However it is hard not to be biased against the offender, and not to feel pity for the fatherless little girl, in an appalling crime such as this. Trying to make the paper unbiased is therefore unrealistic, and should not of been the style of the articles in the newspaper. Bias is clearly shown against Ray Spielman describing this act as one of Rays usual past times. This bias is justified because I want society to stamp down on men like that. Readers are led to believe that Ray Spielman is simply a cold hearted killer. However, his side of the story has not been uncovered, as he as not been able to contact and would probably unwilling to participate in an interview. One of the most influential presentational devices is the masthead, as this is the first thing the reader sees, and is also used to identify a newspaper. Taking this into account I have made the masthead with a bigger font, making it easier to see. I came up with the masthead The Daily Chronicle for my newspaper for various reasons. The phrase The Daily Chronicle means that it is a journal that logs events daily, making it perfect for its use as a masthead, as it sums up the contents of the newspaper. The word Chronicle in my opinion, has a futuristic quality to it. This quality is convenient for me as it symbolizes, that the news reported, can have an effect on the future. The masthead is written using an old calligraphic font, to make it seem established along time ago, so that it appears to be reliable. The title Ruthless Murderer Escapes is very striking as the words Murderer and Ruthless have powerful and staggering effects on the reader. However these effects could have been intensified if alliteration and puns were utilised in the title. The paragraphs of my paper were present to ensure that my newspaper was reader friendly and a new paragraph was started every time a new point was being discussed. Ideally, I would have put more than three columns on my newspaper like broadsheets do, but I was limited in space because I was using only A4 paper. A jump line was actually not needed as my newspaper only consisted of two pages. It was used solely as a presentational attempt to make the paper look authentic. A real newspaper would have a jump line, to direct readers, to a subsequent page of the newspaper, where the rest of the article is displayed. This would help separate articles from other articles, save time and avoid confusion that could lead to frustration on behalf of the reader. All of my pictures are in colour to make them eye-catching. The main picture on the front-page would not usually be put on a broadsheet, in the interest of its readers, because of its violent and explicit nature. However tabloids use such tactics, by putting shocking pictures of murders or a half naked celebrity to pull attention and boost sales, precisely the job of the provocative page 3 girls in the Sun. I wanted the picture to have the same appeal to readers, and boost sales. My attempt to make the article as factual as possible was a success, as I included some statistics, The damage caused by him in the last year alone has summed up to a total of at least i 4,000,000 which may have alarmed readers. The start of the article was also very factual, Ray Spielman, a convict aged 27, has escaped while he was being transferred to Staunton Maximum Security Prison yesterday, at about 9:45pm.

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example o work towards the fulfilment of its own interests in total disregard of the individuals whom it is representing, and in such a situation it is possible that the principal is the one most likely to suffer (Crane & Matten, 2003, p.42). In this way, it is possible for the principal–agent problem to take place, leading to the ruining of relationships which were meant to be mutually beneficial. The fact that the agent works towards the achievement of its own goals to the total detriment of the entity represented by it creates a situation where it is impossible for such entities to trust agents to handle their affairs. In this way, the agent is given the power to represent the interests of the principal, and instead of doing so, it chooses to undertake activities which not only ensure that it gains a lot from the activities, but that the interests of the principal suffer as a result. Corporate social responsibility comes about mainly because of the instances of conflict that are a part of the inconsistencies that occur between the profitability and social goals. The result is that many companies have to work towards the attainment of profits while at the same time ensuring that they act responsibly towards their employees as well as the societies that are affected by their activities. A case study conducted on Levi Strauss shows that this company makes sure that the working conditions and wages among the workers throughout its supply chain is reasonable (McWilliams & Siegel, 2001). In this way, the company is able not only to achieve the legal requirements of the countries within which it works, but it also ensures that it takes ethical responsibility over its actions as well as its employees. While this may be the case, there have been instances where because of the massive profit margins within these companies, many of their chief executives have gone out of t heir way to ensure that they gain huge salary increments. In such cases, these executive officers are often