Patients with epilepsy are prone to seizures, which can occur in specific regions or throughout the brain. The disease occurs due to defects in nerve signaling, leading to an uncontrolled transmission of electrical impulses between nerve cells in the brain. Normal nerve transmission involves short bursts of electrical activity, called action potentials, that cease once a signal has been transmitted. A seizure occurs when the brain loses the ability to stop the electrical impulse after signal transmission, leading to an overstimulation of brain cells. Epilepsy can have a number of effects on the brain, as well as effects on a patient's lifestyle.
Sexual Effects
Some patients with epilepsy may suffer from sexual side effects of the disease. Epilepsy.com indicates that as many as two out of three patients with epilepsy may suffer from a change in sexual desire or activity levels as a result of their disease. These effects may occur as a result of physiological changes within the brain due to the disease itself, changing the way a patient's brain controls sexual arousal. Alternatively, some patients with epilepsy may suffer from anxiety about sexual activity or fear that sex may trigger a seizure. Finally, some medications for epilepsy may interfere with sexual arousal, lowering sex drive or making the act of sex uncomfortable. Patients with epilepsy suffering from sexual side effects of the disease should discuss their concerns with a physician.
Social Effects
Epilepsy may also have a number of social effects. Some patients with epilepsy may be hesitant to discuss their disease, fearing a social stigma associated with the disease, or may fear having seizures in public. Parents of children with epilepsy may face anxiety about their child's disease and become overprotective. EpilepsyOntario explains that many patients with epilepsy have an high quality of life, and encourages parents of children with epilepsy to accept and support their children's freedom. Epileptic patients with social anxiety should consider discussing their fears with a professional to help improve their emotional well-being and quality of life.
Physical Effects
In addition to social and sexual effects of epilepsy, seizures can also have a physical effect on the brain. In rare cases, the over-stimulation of brain cells during a seizure can lead to brain cell death and the development of scar tissue within the brain, according to Medline Plus. Patients can help prevent brain damage as a result of seizures by properly controlling their disease with anti-seizure medication, and reporting any seizures to a physician to ensure their disease is properly treated.
