EPILEPSY

People with epilepsy are just like everyone else, except that they are prone to recurrent seizures. A seizure is caused by irregular impulses sent from the brain. (The old name for a seizure was a 'fit').

The brain is like a computer which consists of a vast network of nerve cells called neurons. Throughout our lives literally billions of electrical messages are fired between these cells, controlling every single thing we think, feel or do.

The body has its own inbuilt balancing mechanisms. These ensure that messages usually travel between nerve cells in an orderly way. However sometimes - quite without warning - an upset in brain chemistry causes the messages to become scrambled. When this happens the neurons fire off faster than usual and in bursts. It's this disturbed activity that triggers off a seizure.

During a seizure a person may black out or experience a number of unusual sensations or movements. The whole thing usually only lasts a matter of seconds or minutes, after which the brain cells return to normal.