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There is constant electrical activity in everyone's brain at all times. When a seizure happens it is because there is a sudden increase in electrical activity, like a storm or power surge. That soon passes and electrical activity returns to normal and the seizure ends. So if when someone with epilepsy is examined at a time they are not having a seizure, then their brain's electrical activity will appear to be normal.

To test for epilepsy what is sometimes done is to expose the brain to known triggers for seizures to see if there is a change in the electrical activity so that doctors can find out what causes an particular person to have seizures. Different people will have different causes for their seizures. So if the right trigger is not used during an examination, the person will still have normal brain activity. That does not mean that they don't have epilepsy and won't get seizures. It just may mean that their particular trigger wasn't one of those that were tried on them. As there are many of them, it is not possible to test for them all in one examination.

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Q: If the doctor says you have very little brain activity how do you have seizures?
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What is epilespy?

Epilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures (convulsions) over time. Seizures are episodes of disturbed brain activity that cause changes in attention or behavior.


What causes the seizures of epilepsy?

The seizures of epilepsy are due to unregulated spreading of electrical activity from one part of the brain to other parts.


Do paralyzed people have seizures?

Someone who is paralysed could also happen to have epilepsy and if they did, then they could have seizures. Seizures come in many forms, not just the stereotypical idea of people shaking. A seizure is caused by an increased amount of electrical activity in the brain. The fact that someone is incapable of moving by themselves will not have any effect on whether there can be a disruption of electrical activity in their brain. So paralysed people can have seizures


Can syncope cause seizures?

Syncope is a loss of consciousness or fainting, sometimes caused by lack of oxygen to the brain, but is different to Epilepsy. Seizures in Epilepsy are caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. So Syncope would not be a cause of seizures.


Can a fall injury cause seizures?

Seizures are caused by unusual electrical activity in the brain. A back injury would not directly cause that to happen. It is possible that someone with a back injury could also happen to have seizures. If seizures started around the same time as the back injury, then it would be important to know how the back injury was caused and if something else could have happened at the time which led to the start of seizures. Only a doctor that could examine the person could establish if there is any connection.


Can street drug withdrawal cause seizures similar to Grand mal epileptsy?

Epilepsy is caused by unusual electrical activity in the brain. Everyone has electrical activity in their brain, but if this is disrupted in any way, a seizure can occur. If someone who has been on drugs has done some damage to their brain, there is the potential for them to have seizures, so it can happen.


How does primidone work?

Primidone is thought to decrease abnormal activity within the brain that may trigger seizures.


Can lack of blood flow to the brain cause seizure activity?

Lack of blood can indeed cause seizures.


What is an abdominal seizure?

Abdominal seizures occur in your gastrointestinal system, with symptoms surfacing on a regular basis. Such symptoms can interfere with everyday life. Abdominal seizures are characterized by recurring attacks of extreme pain, bloating, nausea, abdominal twitching and gas. Abdominal seizures are rare, and the symptoms can be misinterpreted for other gastrointestinal problems. Abdominal seizures are also referred to as abdominal epilepsy and autonomic seizures. Abdominal seizures are often related to brain seizures. Therefore, your doctor will use an electrocephalogram (ECG) to monitor your brain activity while you have abdominal seizure symptoms in order to make a proper diagnosis.


How does Valproic acid affect the brain?

Valproic acid is thought to depress activity in certain areas of the brain, suppressing the irregular firing of neurons to prevent seizures


What causes electrical activity in the brain do have a seizure?

There is constant electrical activity in the brain. A seizure can occur when an increased amount of electrical activity happens. For different people the actual reasons also differ. So there is no single or simple answer to the question. Different people have different triggers or their seizures. Sometimes it can also be because of slight damage to an area of the brain, though that does not necessarily mean that the person is brain damaged or is in some way retarded. Neither are they mentally ill as epilepsy is a physical not mental illness. So someone can have a slight piece of damage on their brain but it does not affect them in any way in their ordinary lives, except that they may get seizures. People often associate flashing lights with seizures, although less than 5% of people who have seizures are in any way affected by flashing lights, but have other causes for their seizures. Stress can be a cause. People may have seizures because of some other health factor that affects their brain, like if they had suffered a head injury or if they had some other physical problem with their brain, like if they had a tumour. So there are many reasons why electrical activity in the brain could be disrupted.


What is the primary reason for seizures occurring with head injuries?

Head injuries can cause seizures due to the disruption or damage to the brain's normal electrical activity. The primary reason for seizures occurring with head injuries is the disturbance in the balance of chemicals and electrical signals in the brain, resulting in abnormal electrical discharges that trigger seizures. Additionally, bleeding or swelling in the brain, as well as scar tissue formation, can also contribute to the development of seizures after a head injury.