Epilepsy affects close to 3 million people in the United States, causing recurring seizures that affect quality of life. Sadia Yasser, MD, and the team at Advanced Neurology of Katy diagnose and treat epilepsy. The team offers advanced on-site testing and provides personalized care to reduce the frequency of seizures. Call the office in Katy, Texas, today, or schedule an appointment online.
Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes regular seizures. A seizure is a sudden change in the brain’s electrical activity that can last a few seconds or a few minutes. Not all seizures are epilepsy-related.
Anyone can have a seizure. These health incidents can occur during an illness or be caused by a head injury. However, if you have more than one seizure, you have epilepsy.
Epilepsy can be traced to a genetic condition like Down’s syndrome or a neurological condition like a stroke or brain tumor. A head injury can also lead to epilepsy.
Though a chronic condition, you can live a full, active life with epilepsy when you receive proper treatment from the experts at Advanced Neurology of Katy.
Epilepsy symptoms vary and depend on the type of seizure activity a person has. Some people appear dazed or lost in thought, while others show more apparent symptoms of seizure activity, including:
The concern with epilepsy is that the onset of a seizure is difficult to predict and can affect your safety.
The team at Advanced Neurology of Katy performs thorough physical and neurological evaluations to diagnose epilepsy. They review your symptoms, medical history, and birth history. They might also request bloodwork.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) is the primary test used by the team at Advanced Neurology of Katy to diagnose epilepsy. An EEG measures the brain’s electrical activity using small electrodes attached to your scalp. The EEG monitors and records the electrical activity so that the neurology team can identify abnormalities that suggest seizure activity.
The team at Advanced Neurology of Katy personalizes epilepsy treatment plans based on the type and severity of your seizure activity. Antiseizure medication is the primary treatment, but it can take time to find the right medication and dose to control your seizure activity.
When medication fails to improve seizure activity, the Advanced Neurology of Katy team could suggest surgery or placing a vagus nerve stimulator (VNS), an implanted device that uses electrical stimulation to reduce the number and severity of seizures.
Call Advanced Neurology of Katy today or book an appointment online for expert epilepsy care from a skilled team.