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Epilepsy refers to a spectrum of brain disorders that cause seizures. These movement disorders may be the result of factors that interrupt normal nerve activity in the brain. Symptoms are varied and can include preseizure mood changes, smelling odors that don’t exist, feeling strange, or tingling sensations.
At Dignity Health hospitals, experienced neurologists and neurosurgeons collaborate to offer personalized care. To learn more about treatment for epilepsy in the Bay Area, use our online search tool to Find a Doctor.
The main symptom of epilepsy is seizures, which vary but can include:
Neurologists diagnose epilepsy as multiple seizures over a period of time. A single seizure that occurs due to head trauma or high fever is not considered epilepsy.
The primary causes of epilepsy are due to disruption of nerve activity in the brain, and include:
Sometimes, epilepsy is passed down through families (inherited). In other cases, the cause is unknown.
The goal of treatment for epilepsy is to reduce the severity and number of seizures. At Dignity Health, your neurologist may recommend:
Epilepsy can result from a traumatic brain injury, so it’s important to wear protective gear when participating in high-risk sports or similar activities. Talk with your doctor about these and other preventive measures.
Neurologists at Dignity Health hospitals in the Bay Area specialize in the care and treatment of epilepsy.