Tag Archive 'Cerebral Palsy'

Jan 06 2009

Who Is At Risk For Epilepsy ?

Published by pooch under Cerebral Palsy Knowledgebase

Nearly 2.7 million Americans are affected by epilepsy. This means that 9 out of every 1,000 Americans have the disease.

Although statistics show that men are more affected than women with epilepsy, everyone is susceptible to having epilepsy. It can happen to any body of any race at any age. However, people with certain conditions are at greater risk for epilepsy.

It can be recalled that in the twentieth century, some states in the United States banned the marriage of people for fear of transmitting the disease to their children. Some even had to go through sterilization to prevent reproduction. This is due to the widespread belief that epilepsy is 100 percent heritable. This practice was stopped only with the approval of the Disabilities Act.

And yet, although epilepsy is not necessarily hereditary members of the family of a person with epilepsy have a higher risk of developing the disease. The brothers of a child with epilepsy, for example, are more likely to develop the disorder. This is not due to epilepsy is contagious, but is due to the likelihood of a genetic tendency to develop epilepsy. Furthermore, epilepsy is more likely to occur in the siblings of children who suffer from generalized convulsions. In fact, about 4 to 10 percent of other children in the family develops epilepsy. But this still depends on the type of epilepsy and the number of family members affected.

In addition, parents of children with epilepsy are also at higher risk of developing epilepsy, set at 5 percent. The risk for children whose father has epilepsy is slightly higher for children whose mother has the disorder. However, the risk is even greater if both parents have epilepsy. Although genetics is a risk factor in the development of epilepsy, the risk is relatively low and should not be a cause for great alarm. Moreover, even if the children develop the disease, most of them finally overcome epilepsy when they become adults. Advances in modern medicine make it possible to control seizures.

Age is another factor in the development of epilepsy. Although the disorder can strike at any age, children are more susceptible. In fact, nearly 50 percent of all cases of epilepsy occur before the age of ten, while 30 percent of cases are those with 10-19 years of age. The remaining 13 percent are people aged 20-29, while ten per cent are aged 30 or over. Although children are at increased risk of developing the disease, tend to experience a reduction in the frequency and intensity of seizures as they grow into adulthood. Algunos incluso outgrew la enfermedad completamente.

In addition to genetic factors and age, people with certain conditions pose an increased risk of developing epilepsy. Studies confirm that up to 5 percent of the total world population may experience a seizure at one point in their lives. Half of the cases, however a clear cause are more likely to suffer a second arrest in six months. Having two of those seizures, 80 percent of which is epilepsy. Although the exact cause of epilepsy can not be pinpointed, there are known factors that twice as likely to develop epilepsy. Such risk factors include:

Babies who have seizures during their first month
Babies born with abnormal brain structures
Babies that are too small for gestational age
Cerebral hemorrhage or internal bleeding
Unstable or abnormal blood vessels in the brain
Brain Injury
Lack of oxygen to the brain
Cerebral Palsy
Brain infections such as abscesses, encephalitis and meningitis
Brain tumors
Mental illness
Stroke due to blockage of the arteries
Early posttraumatic seizures
Degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease
Drug abuse
Fever-related seizures

Despite finding the cause of epilepsy is almost impossible, the best thing one can do is avoid the so-called embargo triggers such as intoxication, nutritional deficiencies, OTC medications that reduce the effectiveness of the seizure of drugs, stress severe lack of sleep, drug abuse and loss of drugs.

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Dec 17 2008

Who Is At Risk For Epilepsy ?

Published by pooch under Cerebral Palsy Knowledgebase

Nearly 2.7 million Americans are affected with epilepsy. This means that 9 out of every 1,000 Americans have the disease.

Although statistics show that men are more affected by epilepsy that women around the world is likely to have epilepsy. It can happen to any body, any race at any age. However, people with certain conditions are at increased risk of acquiring epilepsy.

It may be recalled that in the twentieth century, some states in the United States banned people from marrying for fear of transmitting the disease to their children. Some even had to go through sterilization to prevent reproduction. This is due to the widespread belief that epilepsy is 100 percent heritable. This practice was stopped only with the approval of the Law on Disability.

And yet, although epilepsy is not necessarily hereditary, family members of a person with epilepsy have a higher risk of developing the disease. Siblings of a child with epilepsy, for example, are more likely to develop the disorder. This is not because epilepsy is contagious, but is due to the likelihood of a genetic tendency to develop epilepsy. Furthermore, epilepsy is most likely to occur in siblings of children who suffer from generalized convulsions. In fact, about 4 to 10 per cent of other children in the family develops epilepsy. But this still depends on the type of epilepsy, and the number of affected family members.

In addition, parents of children with epilepsy are also at greater risk of developing epilepsy, linked to a 5 per cent. The risk to children whose father has epilepsy is slightly higher for children whose mother has the disorder. However, the risk is even greater if both parents have epilepsy. Although genetics is a risk factor in the development of epilepsy, the risk is relatively low and should not be a cause for great alarm. Moreover, even if children develop the disorder, most of them will definitely outweigh epilepsy at the time they become adults. Advances in modern medicine make it possible to control seizures.

Age is another factor in the development of epilepsy. Although the disorder can strike at any age, children and adolescents are more susceptible. In fact, nearly 50 percent of all cases of epilepsy occur before ten years of age, while 30 percent of cases are those aged 10-19. The remaining 13 percent are people aged 20-29, while ten per cent are aged 30 or over. Although children are at increased risk of developing the disease, tend to experience a reduction in the frequency and intensity of seizures as they grow into adulthood. Some even outgrew the disease completely.

In addition to genetic factors and age, people with certain conditions pose a higher risk of developing epilepsy. Studies confirm that up to 5 per cent of the total world population may experience a single seizure in a time of their lives. Half of the cases, however a clear cause are more likely to suffer a second arrest in a span of six months. Having two such seizures, is 80 percent chance that it is epilepsy. Although the exact cause of epilepsy can not be identified, there are known factors that twice as likely to develop epilepsy. Such risk factors include:

Babies who suffer convulsions during his first month
Babies with congenital abnormal brain structures
Babies that are too small for their gestational age
Cerebral hemorrhage or internal bleeding
Unstable or abnormal blood vessels in the brain
Brain injuries
The lack of oxygen to the brain
Cerebral Palsy
Brain infections such as abscesses, encephalitis and meningitis
Brain Cancer
Mental illness
Stroke due to blockage of the arteries
Early in postraumatic seizures
Degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease
Drug abuse
Fever-related seizures

Despite finding the cause of epilepsy is almost impossible, the best thing one can do is to avoid so-called triggers, however, as food poisoning, nutritional deficiencies, over-the-counter medications that reduce the effectiveness of the seizure of drugs , Severe stress, the lack of sleep, drug abuse and loss of medicines.

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Nov 15 2008

The Ataxic Cerebral Palsy Nightmare

Published by pooch under Celebral Palsy Types

Although the incidence of ataxic cerebral palsy is quite rare (eg type is represented only about 5 to 10 percent of all cases of cerebral palsy), note that it is still cerebral palsy, and can cause problems bothering not only in their affected child, but also to you, too.

The following are some facts about ataxic cerebral palsy that has to be aware of:

* The cerebellum is the part of the human brain that is damaged, causing the kind of ataxic cerebral palsy. It is responsible for coordination and balance of body movements.

* Once damaged, which could result in the following:

Hypotonia or disorder or poor muscle tone, or Having difficult time maintaining balance, or disorders of the perception of depth or more tremors, and disability or in the control of the motion and variety of voluntary movements.

* Children affected with ataxic cerebral palsy may show the following signs:

Demonstration or unsteady gait, tremors or intention to try to make any voluntary movement, or clumsiness and difficulty in carrying out such voluntary movements, or writing assignment is seriously affected; perception of depth or disorder results to the movements as coarser to reach any object or Involuntary and rapid movements of the eyeball, I other related conditions such as visual and hearing disabilities, convulsions, and possibly mental retardation.

In most cases, a doctor diagnosed a child for any possible presence of ataxic cerebral palsy through a combination of meticulous physical examination and the results of medical images, methods such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. These findings, together with the results of the physical examination are used to evaluate and determine whether the brain is developing normally or not. On the other hand, if not diagnosed at an early age, it is possible that the worst affected as a child ages.

Sad to say, the cure for ataxic cerebral palsy has to be made. However, it can be treated by the help of therapy and medication. One of the popular treatment used to combat ataxic cerebral palsy is a process called chronic cerebella. It begins by placing the stimulation of any means, as the electrode on the surface of the cerebellum damaged. It is believed that restore muscle tone and balance.

It is important to be aware of the signs of ataxic cerebral palsy who will be their search if your child is suffering from it, therefore, can he / she ask your doctor for further evaluation. Your child’s life, as well as its future is at stake here, so it is imperative that you are not negligent. Be alert and aware of ataxic cerebral palsy.

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