subject: Sleep Disorder Center [print this page] Nocturnal Seizures Nocturnal Seizures
Human brain is a repository of electrical activity and impulses. When these activities and impulses turn abnormal, for various reasons, they lead to a situation called epilepsy or nocturnal seizures, which in and many more. These symptoms lead to further sleep deprivation which ultimately common parlance is referred to as sleep disorders. A majority of people afflicted with this phenomenon are susceptible to daytime epileptic seizures too. While the triggers for epileptic seizures are varied, the most common are cited to be head injuries, infections attacking the brain, usage of toxic substances like tobacco or alcohol, photosensitivity, medication, sleep deprivation and presence of tumors, to mention a few. It could at times be an inherited condition too.
General Symptoms
Though common among children, epilepsy or nocturnal seizures are not rare among adults. The general symptoms associated with this manifestation of sleep disorders are confusion, attention difficulties, daytime sleepiness, migraine headache leads to further complicated symptoms. Before it does its advisable to visit a sleep disorder center to get diagnosed.
Indicators
Nocturnal seizures are characterized by posturing, thrashing, screaming, abnormal body movement, leg thrashing, queer behavior in sleep, loss of bladder control among other things. Carl W Bazil, MD., PhD in his article Nocturnal Seizures mentions that a decrease in rapid eye movement coupled with an increase in lighter stages of sleep are noted in laboratory conditions.
Types of Nocturnal Seizures
Not all incidence of epilepsy cases lead to nocturnal seizures. A certain form of nocturnal epilepsy called Juvenile myoclonic is the more common type with an incidence rate of 7 per cent among children and teenagers. According to the Epilepsy Foundation this affliction characterized by arm and leg jerking continues into the adulthood. Another form of seizure the onset of which is more common in the age group of 25-43 years is known as Grand mal seizures on awakening. It occurs immediately after getting up from sleep (including day time sleep), affecting both sides of the body. The affected person becomes unconscious during these attacks.
Remedy
Visiting a neurologist or a sleep disorder center for treatment of symptoms is vital in the treatment of this affliction. It will help to get a video recording of overnight sleep at a sleep clinic to analyze the sleep pattern.
