"Myo" stands for muscle, and "clonus" means rapid alternation between contractions and relaxation periods. Myoclonic seizure patients, therefore, usually experience fleeting muscle jerks or twitches. If you're having a myoclonic episode, you...
Children exhibit a wide range of behaviors. Each has a different temperament and responds differently to his environment. One child can be shy and in need of encouragement at every step. Another might be boisterous and fearless, needing you to...
Characterized by high levels of electrical activity in the brain, epilepsy syndromes clinically present with several different kinds of seizures predominantly in children, but also in adults. Because the seizures happen during sensitive times in...
Convulsions, or motor seizures, can occur at any age and come in many forms. A seizure can occur while a patient is conscious and be limited to one limb. It can involve loss of consciousness and convulsive movements of the entire body. Seizures...
A seizure is a symptom of abnormal brain function, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. The cause is typically unknown, and a person may suffer from more than one seizure type, depending on the area of the brain, and how much of that area, is...
If you experience seizures that are tied to your menstrual cycle, you are not alone. Low progesterone during certain phases of your cycle may play a role because this hormone has anti-seizure properties. Estrogen, on the other hand, can promote...
Epilepsy, a seizure disorder, is a neurological condition that affects the firing of neurons in the brain. Seizures occur when an abnormal transmission of electrical signals takes place. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, 3 million Americans...
Simply put, a seizure is an electrical disturbance in the brain that causes a change in awareness, sensation, behavior and movement. In some cases, an epileptic may experience a loss of consciousness. A variety of seizure types exist, each with...
Nux vomica is a small tree that features a thick trunk and shiny, deep-green leaves. The tree bears seeds that are used for a variety of medical purposes. It is most commonly used to treat upset stomach and heartburn, according to Botanical.com....
Epilepsy is a neurological disease stemming from a deregulation of brain signaling. Nerve cells within the brain, called neurons, commonly communicate with each other through cell junctions called synapses. One nerve cell sends a chemical signal...
When you're having an absence seizure, you may blink frequently, stare into space and appear to be zoned out for 15 to 20 seconds while your awareness is impaired. There is typically no warning for these episodes. In fact, you could be walking or...
A seizure occurs when the brain's electrical system demonstrates an overload of unusual activity---the result can be as slight as a muscle twitch or can involve uncontrollable thrashing and loss of consciousness. One of the most common diseases...
Yohimbe is the common name of Pausinystalia yohimbe, an evergreen tree that is found in the West African countries of Zaire, Cameroon and Gabon. It is the bark of the yohimbe tree that is used to make medicine because it contains a chemical called...
Epilepsy is a condition in which a person has seizures that affect one, or several, of their physical and mental functions. According to the Epilepsy Foundation of America, a patient is diagnosed with epilepsy when he has had two or more...
Gelsemium is a naturally occurring flowering plant found in many different areas of the globe, including South America, Asia, North America (especially in the Carolinas and on the east coast) and parts of Africa, according to the USDA (United...
Dilantin is the trade name for the anti-seizure medication phenytoin. This medicine is an anti-epileptic and anti-convulsant drug used to reduce the frequency and severity of seizures in acute and chronic cases. Another use for Dilantin is as an...
Epilepsy affects more than 300,000 children under age 14 in the United States, according to the Epilepsy Foundation. Children with epilepsy experience their condition in different ways, from mild symptoms tamed by medication to severe problems...
When your child is diagnosed with epilepsy, it can be frightening and confusing. This condition occurs when the brain's electrical signals misfire and cause a breakdown in communication between nerve cells, Kids Health reports. About two-thirds of...
Glutathione is a substance your body uses to help prevent cell damage while your body is producing energy. If your stores of glutathione are depleted, you may have a medical condition referred to as glutathione synthetase deficiency. The disorder...
Cocaine is a highly addictive drug, which can lead to major medical complications and health problems, some of which are long-term. The textbook “Drugs and Human Behavior” by Tibor Palfai and Henry Jankiewicz explains that the side...
Kava is the name of a beverage and the plant it is made from, native to many South Pacific islands, as described by Dr. Harry Feldman, an anthropologist at Australian National University. The beverage is revered by island natives for the mild,...
Ultram, the brand name for tramadol, is an oral analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain. The medication is available only with a physician's prescription. While Ultram is not a narcotic, it works similar to a narcotic medication in the...
Babies with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) have a marked growth deficiency. If the height and/or weight of a newborn is at or below the tenth percentile, that could be an indicator of fetal alcohol syndrome. These measurements can also be evaluated...
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) defines a seizure as a type of alteration in behavior combined with unconsciousness and global twitching of all the muscles of the body that may last for several minutes. This convulsing will have...
Painful headaches that develop soon after you eat seafood might be more than just a coincidence. Eating seafood can be a trigger for headaches, particularly if the food contains toxins or unhealthy chemicals. Understanding which types of fish are...
Focal seizures, more commonly referred to as partial simple seizures, occur when there is an abnormal electrical discharge in one part of the brain. The symptoms are usually motor but can be sensory or emotional. These seizures do not spread to...
Seizures are a common nervous system disorder in childhood. Seizures are classified into two basic types called partial or generalized. According to LeBonheur Children's Hospital, partial seizures take place when abnormal electrical brain function...
Genetic diseases occur when there is a variation or alteration in a gene. Causes of genetic abnormalities include environmental, congenital and gene mutation within the cell that can occur at random. Inherited genetic diseases require a specific...
Effexor is a prescription medication used to treat depression and various forms of anxiety including panic attacks and social anxiety. Effexor is the brand name for the medication venlafaxine and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug...
