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When you think of a crisis, you probably think about the classic Hollywood version-a person who trembles violently, falling to the ground and passing. But you could be surprised to learn that crises are not always obvious.

According to the CDC, millions of people in the world haveepilepsy. He has no known cure and is marked by unpredictable seizures. Many people live with the condition all their lives. And in some, like Disney Channel StarCameron BoyceIt can be mortal. New research is emerging on ways to treat epilepsy and help people live without seized. In recent years, scientists have learned a lot about this old disorder. Eat this, not that! Health has spoken to experts at the national level to reveal the things you need to understand epilepsy. Here are what they said.

"Epilepsy is a neurological condition characterized by recurrent crises," says Dr. Elizabeth Felton MD, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at theThe University of Wisconsin-Madison. The entries occur when a burst of electrical activity in the brain exceeds its normal limits. This causes an uncontrolled electric storm in the brain.

More than 65 million people around the world are affected by epilepsy and US $ 3.4 million. In fact, epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases on the planet, according to theWorld Health Organization. The disease strikes adults and children and is one of the first recorded conditions - written documents dating from 4000 BC. have been found that talk about epilepsy. In fact, there are many celebrities who have epilepsy, including actor Danny Glover, professional football player Jason Snelling and Prince Prince awarded Grammy.

Even if it is so widespread, the cause of epilepsy is unknown for more than 50% of people diagnosed according to theNHS.There are certain conditions related to epilepsy, including a severe head injury, brain damage, meningitis (brain infection) and certain genetic syndromes.

Some people have a warning called "aura" that comes before a crisis crisis. The aura can feel like a fear or already seen and is technically a crisis in itself. "A lot of times people say they feel something like burning rubber or a burning leather," says Dr. Lance Lee, Glendale Neurologist, California. "Some have visual symptoms like flashing lights and some people have a migraine. All this could be an aura. But that does not happen to everyone."

Some people have what you would think like a classic seizure - falling to the ground with uncontrollable convulsions. But it's not true for everyone with epilepsy. "The crises in different ways can present many different ways," says Dr. Felton. "Sometimes you can not say just looking at a person they have a crisis."

Most people with epilepsy have awareness-sensitization convulsions. According toEpilepsy FoundationThese focus crises begin in a part of the brain. The convulsions of focal appearance can cause a person to do things unintentionally repeated, such as struggling their lips persistently, looking at order, picking up their clothes or wandering. The jerky movements throughout the body usually occur with seizures that affect both sides of the brain.

Seizures are a symptom of epilepsy, but you can have crises without diagnosing the disease. "Epilepsy is not usually diagnosed as a person has more than one crisis within 24 hours," says Dr. Felton. Seizures can be caused by other problems. In young children, for example, a quick tip of body temperature sometimes triggers febrile crises. An epilepsy diagnosis is generally manufactured after someone has had more than two non-provoked convulsions, which means not caused by infection, injury or withdrawal of drugs or alcohol.

You have probably seen warnings for people with epilepsy to avoid watching television broadcasts that feature titrants. CornphotosensitivityOnly convulsions trigger only about 3% of people with epilepsy. The most common triggers are sleep deprivation and fever. "Even if you take your medicine, if you have a high temperature, you could have a crisis. Sometimes we do not control it, says Dr. Lee." You have a time difference of a flight from Asia or D 'Europe, how are you going to control your sleep cycle? You do not sleep normally. So, unfortunately, you could have a revealing crisis. "

Other common triggers include missed medicines, alcohol, street drug use, infection, illness and stress. Sometimes there is no particular trigger.

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Sorry, ladies. UndereEpilepsy Foundation,About half of all women with epilepsy report having more seizures at the time of their period. Called "cataminate crises", they tend to happen around the time of ovulated women or before menstrual bleeding. The researchers believe that this is due to hormonal fluctuations of the body. The brain has a lot of estrogen-sensitive nerve cells and progesterone, main sex hormones for women. Studies have found that high doses of estrogen can cause origin crises in animals, while progesterone can protect against them. It is believed that an imbalance of the two hormones during the menstrual cycle could trigger these crises.

Anti-crisis drugs are usually the first line of defense in the treatment of epilepsy. Today, drugs control convulsions in 7 out of 10 people. "The drugs are so critical. You do not need to be afraid of them, "says Patty Shafer Rn, MN, Senior Director of Health Information with the Epilepsy Foundation. "These medications are calming and perfectly stop electric discharges causing crises. Drugs can also affect other parts of the brain. There are so many other conditions that go with epilepsy for some people - higher depression rates. high, cognitive problems, even weight gain. Sometimes these things can be a side effects of the drug. But the seizures affect how your brain works, so it is often not the drug, but the epilepsy itself causing the side effects. "

Although the drugs are the most common way to treat epilepsy, other methods include neurostimulation (the delivery of low voltage electricity to specific nerves or brain area), cerebral surgery and therapy Food.

Long before people start eating bacon to lose weight, thecetogenic regimewas intended to help control epilepsy. It is much stricter than ATKINS diet patients are monitored by their doctors and dieticians and foods are measured and weighed. The ketones are formed when the body uses grease for its energy source instead of carbohydrates. "Doctors generally recommend the cetogenetic regime for children whose convulsions do not respond to drugs," says Shafer. "It can work so well right - but it's not easy. If you try to lose weight and you" cheat "with a candy bar, it's probably not a big deal. But for a Person with an epilepsy, this bar Candy can throw everything extinguished and now they are at risk of a seizure. "According to the Epilepsy Foundation, several studies have shown that the ketogenic regime helps reduce convulsions in more than 50% of children who did not respond to medicines. Some children become even without seizure.

Service dogs can be specially trained to answer if a person has a seizure. These dogs learn to alert their families when a person has a crisis, lie next to them to prevent injury and even use their body as cushion to break down. "We had good relationships from people who have crisis dogs," Shafer explains. "The epilepsy can really isolate. Often people can not drive, nor go to work regularly, so it's really difficult for them. These dogs are superb companions and can offer a lot of support."

While asking for a service dog, the Epilepsy Foundation also provides that they do not take the place of medical advice for night surveillance, as convulsions that occur while sleep can be particularly dangerous because of the risk of suffocation. And live your happiest and healthiest life, do not miss these50 secrets to live at 100.