Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent seizures. An individual is diagnosed with epilepsy if he has two or more unprovoked seizures. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, almost 3 million people in the U.S. have epilepsy,...
Methylphenidate is a stimulant medication that was first synthesized in 1944. As an article published in 2000 in "Mayo Clinic Proceedings" explains, methylphenidate's mechanism of action remains unknown, though one hypothesis is that its effects...
Atonic seizures result in a loss of strength in the muscles. Victims may notice drooping eyelids, falling suddenly and an inability to hold onto things. People stay awake during the seizure and, because of the sudden loss of muscle tone, can...
Paralysis, or the inability to move or feel part of the body, is a symptom of many disorders and afflictions. While paralysis can occur due to stroke or back injury, other causes of paralysis are less well known. Experiences of spontaneous...
Epilepsy is a condition characterized by abnormal electrical behavior in the brain. This can result in seizures, which can range from being barely noticeable to grand mal seizures, which cause convulsions and loss of consciousness. Epilepsy...
Cataplexy is characterized by a sudden loss of muscle tone, either generalized over the entire body or localized to specific muscle groups. According to MayoClinic.com, a number of physical changes occur during a cataplectic attack such as slurred...
Tuberculosis, AIDS, the common cold and the chicken pox are a few examples of infectious diseases passed through bodily fluid. However, certain diseases exist that are noninfectious. These diseases can be the result of an anatomical problem or...
Adderall, the brand name for a combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, is a stimulant available as a prescription medication only. It works by balancing chemicals in the brain, namely dopamine and norepinephrine. In this manner, Adderall...
The Neuroscience For Kids website reports that there are about 100 billion neurons in the human brain that process messages from the trillions of cells in the human body. Disorders of the nervous system can occur in the brain, spinal column or at...
Narcolepsy is a medical term for a condition that causes you to feel an overwhelming urge to fall asleep. You can sleep for only a few seconds or for longer periods of time, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke....
A seizure can be scary for both children and parents. Seizure refers to a sudden malfunction in the brain, causing a child to collapse and convulse, often with a loss or change in consciousness. According to Children's Hospital Boston,...
Narcolepsy is a long-term neurological condition in which your brain is unable to regulate your sleep-wake cycles. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that if you have narcolepsy, you may experience urges to sleep...
Seizures--a symptom of epilepsy--are characterized by behavioral and physical changes (such as blackouts) caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The presentation of symptoms varies depending upon the type of seizure and part of the...
Seizures can occur frequently in children, from a number of causes. Around 4 percent of children experience at least one seizure, Columbia University Medical Center reports. Not all children with seizures have epilepsy, defined as recurrent,...
Daytime sleepiness can often be attributed to taking certain types of medications or ingesting chemicals such as caffeine or nicotine. The cause of daytime sleepiness may not always be this simple, however. Because daytime sleepiness can interfere...
Bladder control problems, medically known as incontinence, are an uncomfortable fact of life for many women. Bladder control problems include stress incontinence -- leakage triggered by a laugh or a sneeze, and urge incontinence -- leakage after a...
